It's been awhile since I've had to sit in the middle seat on an airplane. I forgot how much it sucks.
....
As I lean down to store my bag under the seat in front of me, I see a set of hot pink toenails protruding into my personal air space -- just a few inches from my nose.
I sit back into my seat and look over at the owner of the hot pink toenails. She in turn looks at me with a curiously hopeful expression. "Vietnam," she chirps.
At this point, some people would probably be asking, "Vietnam? What does this middle aged woman with the heavy eyeliner mean? Is this plane going to Vietnam? Have you ever been to Vietnam? Do you speak Vietnamese?"
Don't worry. I got this. I know what she means to say : "Are you Vietnamese?"
I shake my head and reply, "Korean."
She instantly becomes disinterested in me, and resumes crunching on her apple.
....
I get that sort of question a lot from other Asians. I'm not sure what it is about my features, but many Asians always seem surprised when I tell them I'm Korean. I know that my last name often throws people off because "Log" isn't a common Korean surname, but I also encounter complete strangers who start speaking to me in Japanese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese.
Sometimes it seems that my Korean ethnicity is even less apparent in the Motherland. I remember one instance when I was walking down a street in Apgu when a man rolled down the taxi window and asked me for directions in Japanese.
On another occassion, while shopping in Seoul, Cyndi once overhead a woman say to her son with her hand pointed in my direction, "That's Japanese style." It's sort of funny that she considered my outfit "Japanese style" since everything I had been wearing was purchased in Korea.
I suppose my thin eyebrows and penchant for wearing flats or slippers are a dead give-away of my foreignness.
As long as I don't get any fake Chinese thrown at me (Ching chong chong ching) I am not offended by these misidentifications. I find it curious, is all.
...
One more note about my air-neigbhor from Vietnam-- as evidenced by her one word question, she barely knew any English. Hence, I was unexpextedly designated as her personal emissary. When she jiggled her cup of ice in front of my face, I knew that meant I was supposed to ask the flight attendant for more water. When she pointed vigorously at the lamp over my head, it meant that she wanted me to turn on the overhead light for her. When the flight attendant asked her, "Pasta or sandwich" she immediately turned to me. Unfortunatley, I didn't know how to explain "pasta" through gestures, but she figured it out by looking over at the gentleman across the aisle from her. On top of all that, the lady even got me to take down her baggage from the overhead compartment.
That lady sure is resourceful. Or, maybe I'm just a chump... We "Vietnam" got to stick together.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
21 October 2008
05 August 2008
Sticky Pics + Kaohsiung Wrap-Up
This first pic is dedicated to JS Unnie.
This sticky pic is way back from our Taiwan vacation. The machine suggested poses, so we just mimicked the models.
Here's another one from Taiwan, featuring Ben, Ben's Wife, and Ben's Brother. :)
This one is adorned with all sorts of junk because the sticky booth attendant took it upon herself to help decorate our pictures. She went crazy with the borders and message stamps.
Speaking of Taiwan... I had meant to write up a nice summary of our time in Kaohsiung, but I've sort of lost steam. I'll just say that Kaohsiung was lovely. It reminded me of Hawaii -- a little bit. We're very grateful to Ben + Ben's Brother for being such attentive hosts. I don't know how we would have gotten around Kaohsiung otherwise. There is a newly built metro system, but I don't think it's been centralized yet. The city is gearing up the World Games in 2009, so if you're interested in checking out Taiwan's largest port city, I suggest waiting until then.
Here are a few of my more scenic (non-food) photos:
Cijin Island - Home of one of Taiwan's oldest naval forts.
I'm not a fan of black sand, but the sea looked beautiful.
Dream Mall
Um...something of cultural significance?
We spent a very long morning hiking, and got to hang with a bunch of wild monkeys. Monkey poo is quite nasty. I suspect that it's particularly nasty because these monkeys are feasting on abandoned cups of bubble tea. Do not feed the monkeys bubble tea, people!
This sticky pic is way back from our Taiwan vacation. The machine suggested poses, so we just mimicked the models.
Here's another one from Taiwan, featuring Ben, Ben's Wife, and Ben's Brother. :)
This one is adorned with all sorts of junk because the sticky booth attendant took it upon herself to help decorate our pictures. She went crazy with the borders and message stamps.
Speaking of Taiwan... I had meant to write up a nice summary of our time in Kaohsiung, but I've sort of lost steam. I'll just say that Kaohsiung was lovely. It reminded me of Hawaii -- a little bit. We're very grateful to Ben + Ben's Brother for being such attentive hosts. I don't know how we would have gotten around Kaohsiung otherwise. There is a newly built metro system, but I don't think it's been centralized yet. The city is gearing up the World Games in 2009, so if you're interested in checking out Taiwan's largest port city, I suggest waiting until then.
Here are a few of my more scenic (non-food) photos:
Cijin Island - Home of one of Taiwan's oldest naval forts.
I'm not a fan of black sand, but the sea looked beautiful.
Dream Mall
Um...something of cultural significance?
We spent a very long morning hiking, and got to hang with a bunch of wild monkeys. Monkey poo is quite nasty. I suspect that it's particularly nasty because these monkeys are feasting on abandoned cups of bubble tea. Do not feed the monkeys bubble tea, people!
27 July 2008
Taiwan: Night Markets + ThreadingThread
Apparently, one of the musts of traveling to Taiwan is a trip to the Taiwanese Night Market. We made visits to two of Taipei's most popular night markets, Shilin Market and Rao Her Market. Night Market is very similar in feel to Namdaemun market, with all the stalls of street food and inexpensive clothing and trinkets. In terms of trendy fashion, you can't beat Seoul's Dongdaemun, but the Night Market is nonetheless fun with all the interesting smells, sights, and sounds. I thought that Night Markets ran all night-long, hence the name, but the markets we visited closed up around 11 pm or 12 am. I believe that there are certain Night Markets that stay open until the early morning hours, but we didn't visit any of those.
I must also note that the Taiwanese vendors are more open to bargaining. Perhaps this just shows how bad at bargaining I am, but in Korea, only after much wheedling will the salesperson magnanimously award me with a measly 1000 won discount. In contrast, the Taiwanese vendors seemed quick to negotiate and slash their prices. Whenever I get a discount from a Korean vendor, I always walk away feeling a little resentful because the salespeople make me feel as if their children will have to eat ramyun for the rest of their life all because they gave me a 500 won discount. Whereas in Taiwan, I felt very proud myself when I was able to get several dollars knocked off. I felt really smart at that moment (I know that in actuality I'm just a foolish little tourist with "sucker" written all across my face). My tip to vendors is to significantly mark up your merchandise, then when some fresh-faced foreigner comes along, allow them to engage in some hard core bargaining. Once you come to a more palatable price,
the customer will walk away feeling very pleased with herself, as if she won a great prize. Seriously, I fall for it all the time.
This is the entrance to Rao Her market in Songshan. It was very Las Vegas (the entrance, not the market).
The highlight of our Night Market experience, besides all the successful bargaining, was the full-facial threading. We used to get our eyebrows and upper-lip threaded back in the Homeland (Shout out to Deepa), but have not had the opportunity since moving to the Motherland. We were quite pleased to hear that threading would only cost us around 8USD, but we were taken off guard when we found out that $8 would get your whole face threaded!
After coating your face in baby powder, the threading professional will then attack your face with a simple piece of thread. I'm not going to lie. Threading hurts. The pinching from the string is bearable, but VERY uncomfortable, especially the cheek area.
I had my face threaded by a young twenty-something guy. I think he was some sort of trainee, because when it came time to shape my eyebrows, he sent me to an older gentleman. Based on the fact that this older man's face was plastered on a bunch of posters, I think he may have been the founder of this whole setup. If the website ever gets to working, you can find more info at teacherchi.com
We were instructed to refrain from washing our face for 24 hours. We were allowed to use baby wipes and apply sunscreen, lotion, and makeup, but we could not wet our face with water. Go figure. It was quite inconvenient, especially since we had the glamour shots the next day. Imagine taking all that makeup off with a baby wipe.
So, you're probably thinking. Dang! Do Asian women have that much facial hair to require such extensive threading? Apparently, threading is not just about hair removal. If I am able to understand the following sign, hair removal is not the primary aim. Threading can also clear out your pores, stimulate your metabolism, and change your destiny. Pretty lofty goals for such a humble piece of string.
ADVANTAGE OF WAN-LIEN
1) Easy to absorb other cosmetic articles.
2) Are to make-up and next to the face.
3) Don't easy to grow pimples.
4) Show highlight and fair on your face.
5) Beginning of destiny and change destiny.
6) Remove acne. Face lifting.
7) Clean the dirt of pore.
8) Stimulate facial nerve and metabolism.
9) Remove skin-dulling.
10) Remove facial hair...
As interesting as it was to get our entire face threaded, I would not do this procedure again. First of all, it was very uncomfortable. Secondly, I still saw a lot of unwanted hair on my face. Thirdly, rather than removing acne, I think the thread merely aggravated existing pimples.
Cyndi, on the other hand, would do the threading again. She says that her face felt cleaner. Her only word of caution is that the thread may open up any old cuts on your face. The thread opened up an old battle would from Piggy.
Based on the intrigued expressions of many locals passing by the stand, threading is not an established Taiwanese custom. In fact, my Taiwanese classmate had once told me that facial hair on the upper lip area and arms were considered signs of beauty. I was surprised to see so many Taiwanese women getting their beauty threaded off. Times are changin'.
Cyndi and I had our faces threaded at Rao Her Night Market, while J.IM had her face threaded at the Longshan Undergroud Market. Check out the video to catch a glimpse of this new-fangled threading technology (Just kidding. Threading has been utilized for centuries by hairy women across Asia).
I must also note that the Taiwanese vendors are more open to bargaining. Perhaps this just shows how bad at bargaining I am, but in Korea, only after much wheedling will the salesperson magnanimously award me with a measly 1000 won discount. In contrast, the Taiwanese vendors seemed quick to negotiate and slash their prices. Whenever I get a discount from a Korean vendor, I always walk away feeling a little resentful because the salespeople make me feel as if their children will have to eat ramyun for the rest of their life all because they gave me a 500 won discount. Whereas in Taiwan, I felt very proud myself when I was able to get several dollars knocked off. I felt really smart at that moment (I know that in actuality I'm just a foolish little tourist with "sucker" written all across my face). My tip to vendors is to significantly mark up your merchandise, then when some fresh-faced foreigner comes along, allow them to engage in some hard core bargaining. Once you come to a more palatable price,
the customer will walk away feeling very pleased with herself, as if she won a great prize. Seriously, I fall for it all the time.
This is the entrance to Rao Her market in Songshan. It was very Las Vegas (the entrance, not the market).
The highlight of our Night Market experience, besides all the successful bargaining, was the full-facial threading. We used to get our eyebrows and upper-lip threaded back in the Homeland (Shout out to Deepa), but have not had the opportunity since moving to the Motherland. We were quite pleased to hear that threading would only cost us around 8USD, but we were taken off guard when we found out that $8 would get your whole face threaded!
After coating your face in baby powder, the threading professional will then attack your face with a simple piece of thread. I'm not going to lie. Threading hurts. The pinching from the string is bearable, but VERY uncomfortable, especially the cheek area.
I had my face threaded by a young twenty-something guy. I think he was some sort of trainee, because when it came time to shape my eyebrows, he sent me to an older gentleman. Based on the fact that this older man's face was plastered on a bunch of posters, I think he may have been the founder of this whole setup. If the website ever gets to working, you can find more info at teacherchi.com
We were instructed to refrain from washing our face for 24 hours. We were allowed to use baby wipes and apply sunscreen, lotion, and makeup, but we could not wet our face with water. Go figure. It was quite inconvenient, especially since we had the glamour shots the next day. Imagine taking all that makeup off with a baby wipe.
So, you're probably thinking. Dang! Do Asian women have that much facial hair to require such extensive threading? Apparently, threading is not just about hair removal. If I am able to understand the following sign, hair removal is not the primary aim. Threading can also clear out your pores, stimulate your metabolism, and change your destiny. Pretty lofty goals for such a humble piece of string.
ADVANTAGE OF WAN-LIEN1) Easy to absorb other cosmetic articles.
2) Are to make-up and next to the face.
3) Don't easy to grow pimples.
4) Show highlight and fair on your face.
5) Beginning of destiny and change destiny.
6) Remove acne. Face lifting.
7) Clean the dirt of pore.
8) Stimulate facial nerve and metabolism.
9) Remove skin-dulling.
10) Remove facial hair...
As interesting as it was to get our entire face threaded, I would not do this procedure again. First of all, it was very uncomfortable. Secondly, I still saw a lot of unwanted hair on my face. Thirdly, rather than removing acne, I think the thread merely aggravated existing pimples.
Cyndi, on the other hand, would do the threading again. She says that her face felt cleaner. Her only word of caution is that the thread may open up any old cuts on your face. The thread opened up an old battle would from Piggy.
Based on the intrigued expressions of many locals passing by the stand, threading is not an established Taiwanese custom. In fact, my Taiwanese classmate had once told me that facial hair on the upper lip area and arms were considered signs of beauty. I was surprised to see so many Taiwanese women getting their beauty threaded off. Times are changin'.
Cyndi and I had our faces threaded at Rao Her Night Market, while J.IM had her face threaded at the Longshan Undergroud Market. Check out the video to catch a glimpse of this new-fangled threading technology (Just kidding. Threading has been utilized for centuries by hairy women across Asia).
22 July 2008
Summer Beauty Buys: Annalog's Picks
Other than my trusty BB cream, I still don't wear very much makeup. This fact, however, doesn't stop me from regularly perusing Seoul's plethora of cosmetic shops and drug stores. Cyndi, J.IM, and I have recently spent a lot of time and money (eeps!) picking up some great new products, so I thought it'd be a good idea to share our top Asian beauty buys for the summer.
The following items are my picks. I will post Cyndi and J.IM's list within the next few days, if not sooner.
Okay, let's proceed with the budget beauty extravaganza!
LET ME FINISH BB CREAM SPF 37 PA++ (Banila Co.)
I recently switched from my Missha "M' BB Cream to Banila Co.'s "Let Me Finish" BB Cream. Banila Co.'s BB cream is slightly more pricey (over $20), but in my inexpert opinion, it seems to do a better job of covering up my blemishes. It also gives me a "dewy" look (as opposed to a matte finish) that makes me feel more polished. I just smear the cream all over my face; dab a little extra cream on the bigger blemishes; then cover it all with a slight dusting of powder.
AQUAIR "Deep Moist" Hair Treatment Lotion (purchased at Watsons)
My over-processed hair is in dire need of some extra TLC, so I picked up a bottle of this Aquair hair lotion at a Watsons in Taipei. This hair lotion, made by the Shiseido Co. comes in a handy spray bottle and has a nice light scent. It may be all wishful thinking of my part, but my pama-induced curls seem to look a tad more healthy.
DR FORMULA ESSENTIAL LIP BALM SPF 10 (It's Skin)
Since I'm down to my last tube of Labello (which I could only find in Hong Kong!), I'm always on the lookout for another replacement lip balm. Despite the similar packaging, Nivea lip balm just doesn't cut it. It's like smearing a candle across your lips. My current substitute is a tube of "Essential Lip Balm" from It's Skin. The lip balm feels smooth going on, without leaving any sort of sticky residue. Plus, it has SPF 10. That can't hurt, right?
PROCURE 365 HAIR MIST (Missha)
Even though I had just picked up a bottle of Aquair Hair Lotion in Taipei, when Cyndi told me that Missha's "Hair Mist" comes with sun protection, I decided that Procure 365 would make a prudent purchase. The hair mist comes in three scents: floral, fruity, and something blue. I picked "Fresh Flower." I can't single out any noticeable effects on my hair, but I do feel better knowing that my hair's got a little SPF. I spray this one on in the morning, and Aquair in the evening.
I love drugstores in Asia. They're always filled with interesting regional items. In Taipei, we made many stops at the various drugstore. I noticed a line of Garnier products that featured a Chinese fruit, longan, aka "dragon eye." I picked up a bottle of the "Gentle Clarifying Foam," and was very pleased with its soft texture and fresh scent, so I wet back to the drugstore to pick up a tube of the eye cream. Both bottles were described as "light." I had thought this meant "gentle," but I soon realized that it referred to the fact that the products are meant to help whiten the appearance of your skin. I'm already pretty fair (bordering on glow-in-the-dark), so I could do without the whitening agents. Oh well. The products also claim to be "tested on Asian skin." Better Asians than lab animals, I guess.
Eye Contour Whitening Cream with SPF 15 (Garnier Skin Naturals)
Gentle Clarifying Foam with Pure Lemon Essence + long dan (Garnier Skin Naturals)
I also picked up a jar of moisturizing cream another product in the Garnier Skin Naturals line. It's nothing special in terms of the moisturizing, but I keep using it because it smells so darn good. The scent reminds me of a gardenia lei.
Fresh 24h Moisturizing Cream (Garnier Skin Naturals)
Speaking of smelling good, I picked up Anna Sui's "Flight of Fancy" Eau de toilette at the Duty-free. It's my official scent for the summer; meaning, I use it liberally in order to mask the damp odor of a shirt that has not dried properly thanks to the humidity. It smells colorful, like a fruity cocktail.
The following items are my picks. I will post Cyndi and J.IM's list within the next few days, if not sooner.
Okay, let's proceed with the budget beauty extravaganza!
LET ME FINISH BB CREAM SPF 37 PA++ (Banila Co.)
I recently switched from my Missha "M' BB Cream to Banila Co.'s "Let Me Finish" BB Cream. Banila Co.'s BB cream is slightly more pricey (over $20), but in my inexpert opinion, it seems to do a better job of covering up my blemishes. It also gives me a "dewy" look (as opposed to a matte finish) that makes me feel more polished. I just smear the cream all over my face; dab a little extra cream on the bigger blemishes; then cover it all with a slight dusting of powder.
AQUAIR "Deep Moist" Hair Treatment Lotion (purchased at Watsons)
My over-processed hair is in dire need of some extra TLC, so I picked up a bottle of this Aquair hair lotion at a Watsons in Taipei. This hair lotion, made by the Shiseido Co. comes in a handy spray bottle and has a nice light scent. It may be all wishful thinking of my part, but my pama-induced curls seem to look a tad more healthy.
DR FORMULA ESSENTIAL LIP BALM SPF 10 (It's Skin)
Since I'm down to my last tube of Labello (which I could only find in Hong Kong!), I'm always on the lookout for another replacement lip balm. Despite the similar packaging, Nivea lip balm just doesn't cut it. It's like smearing a candle across your lips. My current substitute is a tube of "Essential Lip Balm" from It's Skin. The lip balm feels smooth going on, without leaving any sort of sticky residue. Plus, it has SPF 10. That can't hurt, right?
PROCURE 365 HAIR MIST (Missha)
Even though I had just picked up a bottle of Aquair Hair Lotion in Taipei, when Cyndi told me that Missha's "Hair Mist" comes with sun protection, I decided that Procure 365 would make a prudent purchase. The hair mist comes in three scents: floral, fruity, and something blue. I picked "Fresh Flower." I can't single out any noticeable effects on my hair, but I do feel better knowing that my hair's got a little SPF. I spray this one on in the morning, and Aquair in the evening.
I love drugstores in Asia. They're always filled with interesting regional items. In Taipei, we made many stops at the various drugstore. I noticed a line of Garnier products that featured a Chinese fruit, longan, aka "dragon eye." I picked up a bottle of the "Gentle Clarifying Foam," and was very pleased with its soft texture and fresh scent, so I wet back to the drugstore to pick up a tube of the eye cream. Both bottles were described as "light." I had thought this meant "gentle," but I soon realized that it referred to the fact that the products are meant to help whiten the appearance of your skin. I'm already pretty fair (bordering on glow-in-the-dark), so I could do without the whitening agents. Oh well. The products also claim to be "tested on Asian skin." Better Asians than lab animals, I guess.
Eye Contour Whitening Cream with SPF 15 (Garnier Skin Naturals)
Gentle Clarifying Foam with Pure Lemon Essence + long dan (Garnier Skin Naturals)
I also picked up a jar of moisturizing cream another product in the Garnier Skin Naturals line. It's nothing special in terms of the moisturizing, but I keep using it because it smells so darn good. The scent reminds me of a gardenia lei.
Fresh 24h Moisturizing Cream (Garnier Skin Naturals)
Speaking of smelling good, I picked up Anna Sui's "Flight of Fancy" Eau de toilette at the Duty-free. It's my official scent for the summer; meaning, I use it liberally in order to mask the damp odor of a shirt that has not dried properly thanks to the humidity. It smells colorful, like a fruity cocktail.
20 July 2008
Taiwan: Kaohsiung Eats
Time to highlight the eats from the second leg of our trip to Taiwan.
The food in Kaohsiung was delicious. As a port city, Kaohsiung has some great seafood. I especially enjoyed the sashimi. It's been awhile since I've had good sashimi (Sorry Motherland, but Korean sashimi is just too slimy).
I also finally mustered up the courage to try stinky tofu. I've been told that stinky tofu may smell like a leaky sewage pipe, but it's actually quite tasty. I will concede that stinky tofu is nowhere as bad as it smells, but I would still say that stinky tofu is an acquired taste. Folks may disagree, but stinky tofu is surprisingly dry, and tastes just as it smells, perhaps a little milder.
Stinky tofu aside, I would say that everything I tried in Kaohsiung was quite delicious. In addition to various seafood dishes (similar to Chinese cuisine), I tried a number of street food and snacks for the very first time. Some of the more memorable eats were:
I repeatedly tried to post some pictures to help you visualize some of these eats, but either Blogger or my Internet is being a major jerk, so you'll just have to sit through another one of my videos if you'd like a visual sampling of our Kaohsiung eats.
Kaohsiung Eats from Annalog on Vimeo.
I still have a lot to share from our trip to Taiwan. I'll eventually get around to it, and explain these clips:
Dream Mall from Annalog on Vimeo.
The food in Kaohsiung was delicious. As a port city, Kaohsiung has some great seafood. I especially enjoyed the sashimi. It's been awhile since I've had good sashimi (Sorry Motherland, but Korean sashimi is just too slimy).
I also finally mustered up the courage to try stinky tofu. I've been told that stinky tofu may smell like a leaky sewage pipe, but it's actually quite tasty. I will concede that stinky tofu is nowhere as bad as it smells, but I would still say that stinky tofu is an acquired taste. Folks may disagree, but stinky tofu is surprisingly dry, and tastes just as it smells, perhaps a little milder.
Stinky tofu aside, I would say that everything I tried in Kaohsiung was quite delicious. In addition to various seafood dishes (similar to Chinese cuisine), I tried a number of street food and snacks for the very first time. Some of the more memorable eats were:
- Pork Dumpling (Meatball wrapped in rice dough and smothered in a sweet Taiwanese gravy)
- Spicy shelled sea bugs (I have no idea what they were, but they were compared to Korean bbeondaegi)
- "Virgin crab" (crab with a mega load of eggs)
- Taiwanese shave ice (In my opinion, it's much more delicious that Korean shave ice. The fruits in Taiwan are so fresh and yummy. We had fresh mango. It was the perfect cure for a blistering summer day on the island).
- Taiwanese ice cakes. (A man was selling these near a shrine. It's similar to Korean jujuba, only a little more creamy. It reminded me of the Samurai ice cakes back in Hawaii, only the Taiwanese ice cakes tasted more like actual fruit.)
I repeatedly tried to post some pictures to help you visualize some of these eats, but either Blogger or my Internet is being a major jerk, so you'll just have to sit through another one of my videos if you'd like a visual sampling of our Kaohsiung eats.
Kaohsiung Eats from Annalog on Vimeo.
I still have a lot to share from our trip to Taiwan. I'll eventually get around to it, and explain these clips:
Dream Mall from Annalog on Vimeo.
17 July 2008
Taiwan:Taipei Eats
I've sampled some Taiwanese food back home, but I had forgotten that Taiwanese cuisine is quite different from American-Chinese food. Taiwanese food is less about stir fry and more about pork, pickled vegetables, stewed meats, and unfamiliar spices (unfamiliar to me). Though the flavors are quite different, Taiwanese food vaguely reminds me of Korean food, though more brown than red.
I will admit that the food may not look very pretty, but it's often quite tasty. Though, I think J.IM and Cyndi would disagree.
I have to admit that we did a pretty terrible job of sampling the good eats in Taipei. This was primarily due to the fact that we only stuck to restaurants with picture or English menus.
At least, we tried some authentic Taiwanese beef noodles at the Rao Her Night Market in Shongsang.
We also tried out a shabu shabu buffet in Ximen. Unlike the hot pots back home, the broth was filled with all sorts of unidentified spices and dried thingamabobbies.
Cyndi had read about a placed called "Modern Toilet," a concept restaurant where you sit atop toilet bowls and eat out of dishes shaped like toilets and urinals. Against our better judgment, we decided to check it out.
The food was pretty disgusting, and I'm not even taking into account the fact it was served in a toilet bowl. Even the complimentary fro-yo (poop shaped-- mmm...) was disappointing.
Sadly, the best meal that I had in Taipei was the boxed lunch that I purchased at the train station. Back in the day, these travel lunches came in tin boxes. Today, the lunches come in a cardboard box or one of the plastic containers pictured below.
We asked the sales clerk about the contents of one of the wrapped box lunches. He said that it was "rice." I asked him if it was chicken, and he replied "yes." Then, I said, "Or, is it pork?" Again, he nodded his head, and said "yes." Thankfully, the mysterious box lunch turned out to be a yummy pork chop.
There's not much too look at, but I've compiled all of the highlights of our Taipei eats including photos and videos of our shabu shabu, Shilin Food Plaza, and the dreadful Modern Toilet.
I will dedicate another post to our eats in Kaohsiung, which were much more interesting and tasty.
I will admit that the food may not look very pretty, but it's often quite tasty. Though, I think J.IM and Cyndi would disagree.
I have to admit that we did a pretty terrible job of sampling the good eats in Taipei. This was primarily due to the fact that we only stuck to restaurants with picture or English menus.
At least, we tried some authentic Taiwanese beef noodles at the Rao Her Night Market in Shongsang.
We also tried out a shabu shabu buffet in Ximen. Unlike the hot pots back home, the broth was filled with all sorts of unidentified spices and dried thingamabobbies.
Cyndi had read about a placed called "Modern Toilet," a concept restaurant where you sit atop toilet bowls and eat out of dishes shaped like toilets and urinals. Against our better judgment, we decided to check it out.
The food was pretty disgusting, and I'm not even taking into account the fact it was served in a toilet bowl. Even the complimentary fro-yo (poop shaped-- mmm...) was disappointing.
Sadly, the best meal that I had in Taipei was the boxed lunch that I purchased at the train station. Back in the day, these travel lunches came in tin boxes. Today, the lunches come in a cardboard box or one of the plastic containers pictured below.
We asked the sales clerk about the contents of one of the wrapped box lunches. He said that it was "rice." I asked him if it was chicken, and he replied "yes." Then, I said, "Or, is it pork?" Again, he nodded his head, and said "yes." Thankfully, the mysterious box lunch turned out to be a yummy pork chop.
There's not much too look at, but I've compiled all of the highlights of our Taipei eats including photos and videos of our shabu shabu, Shilin Food Plaza, and the dreadful Modern Toilet.
I will dedicate another post to our eats in Kaohsiung, which were much more interesting and tasty.
15 July 2008
Taiwan: Glamour Shots
Ack! My Taiwanese classmate told me that the place to be in Taipei is actually the posh area near Taipei 101. I wish she had told me this last week, when I asked her about where to go in Taipei. Oh, well. I still had fun.
One of the highlights of our trip was probably the glamour shots. Let me first begin by saying that Taiwanese "glamour shots" are far more glamorous than the studios you'd find at the mall. Definitely a step above Head Shots. With all the makeup, styling, lighting, and props, it's quite a production. Depending on the number of outfits you order, the photo shoot could take up to half a day. On top of all the "glamour" that they pile on to you, the photographer will then photoshop you out of recognition. If you ever wanted to look like an Asian pop star, glamour shots are for you. Many folks even fly in specifically for the glamour shots, particularly young Japanese women and engaged couples (for official wedding portraits).
Given the production value, the photos are relatively inexpensive. I say "relatively" because it is still quite pricey. We selected the smallest package, which included two outfit changes, a small album of 15 photos, a keychain, and a photo CD. I'm a little embarrassed to admit how much we paid for our photo session, but let's just say that it was slightly more than a scaling at the skin clinic. I figure that when I'm a wrinkled little ajumma, the photos will prove to be a worthy investment. The photo studios accept credit card, so you don't have to worry about carrying enough cash.
Our session took about 2.5 hours. Reservations are recommended. After some research, Cyndi found a studio called "White Ladder," and made an appointment via email. There isn't a lot of information online about Glamour Shot studios (in English), but here's a Japanese list of all the studios in Taipei. I think. The site also seems to feature coupons.
I should warn you that neither the studio staff nor the photographer will likely speak or understand English. They are more likely to be proficient in Japanese. My makeup artist, for example, only knew a few phrases: Go!, Stop!, Look at me.
The studio will ask you to pick out looks from their albums, but I believe that you can also bring in your own outfits. Most of their clientèle seems to be fairly slim and long, so if you, to borrow the words of Beyonce, are bootylicious, the studio will unlikely be "ready for your jelly."
Once we selected our looks, we were taken to a den of clothes and makeup.
The makeup artists applied some mysterious makeup base from a little vial. She said that it would make us "more beautiful." It costs 300TWD! This is why you should never nod before thinking.
Here we are with our saeng ogul (natural face), pre-glamour.
They lengthened Cyndi's hair with some extensions.
Check out the arsenal of makeup. Even if you select a "natural look" they will likely pack on a load of makeup. They use a variety of products including MAC, Bobbi Brown, and Etude House! In addition to plastering my face with foundation, my makeup artist added two layers of false lashes and taped my eyelids. I never thought I'd be one of those girls who taped my eyelids to get some ssankapul. It felt so strange.
Here are our first looks:
Cyndi went with the "natural" look.
I chose a "cute" look, which allowed me to try on some fake bangs.
For our second look, we both coincidentally went with a Chinese-ish look. I had originally wanted to wear this frilly mint green dress, but it did not fit.
I did not realize that the woman was going to stick a floral garden on top of my head.
Cyndi's look was more elegant. She must have been a wealthy Chinese concubine in her past life.
We asked the photographer to take a picture using our own cameras. He instructed us to pose with our hands at the side of our faces. I felt like a major cheeseball, but the picture turned out pretty well.
Cyndi and I were each assigned a photographer. Cyndi got a photographer that could speak a fair amount of English. I got a guy who only knew the phrases: Smile; Open mouth; Look at me. I felt bad for him. He seemed like he desperately wanted to give me more direction, but had to resort to posing me like a mannequin or miming his directions. I'm not even being false-modest when I say that I am terrible at posing. I basically had to mimic him for each shot. Let's just hope he's got some mad photoshop skills.
Usually, you return to the studio a few days later to pick out the photos for your album, but we had to go to Kaohsiung, so we entrusted the photographer with this important task. I'm excited, yet a little worried, to see what my photographer picks out. I really hope he doesn't pick out the one where I'm holding the stuffed dog.
The photos will be shipped to Korea in a couple of weeks.
Overall, I'd say that the whole glamour shot experience was worth it. It was fun to get all dolled up.
There are a number of studios throughout Taipei, but if you'd like to check out White Ladder, here are the directions:
-Take the MRT to Shuanglian.
-Take exit 1.
-Walk straight up the street for about 15 minutes.
- Make a right at Zhongyuan. (#8 Zhongyuan St.)
The studio also has a location in Ximen.
I will conclude with a removal of all the color and spackle.
Glamour-less from Annalog on Vimeo.
One of the highlights of our trip was probably the glamour shots. Let me first begin by saying that Taiwanese "glamour shots" are far more glamorous than the studios you'd find at the mall. Definitely a step above Head Shots. With all the makeup, styling, lighting, and props, it's quite a production. Depending on the number of outfits you order, the photo shoot could take up to half a day. On top of all the "glamour" that they pile on to you, the photographer will then photoshop you out of recognition. If you ever wanted to look like an Asian pop star, glamour shots are for you. Many folks even fly in specifically for the glamour shots, particularly young Japanese women and engaged couples (for official wedding portraits).
Given the production value, the photos are relatively inexpensive. I say "relatively" because it is still quite pricey. We selected the smallest package, which included two outfit changes, a small album of 15 photos, a keychain, and a photo CD. I'm a little embarrassed to admit how much we paid for our photo session, but let's just say that it was slightly more than a scaling at the skin clinic. I figure that when I'm a wrinkled little ajumma, the photos will prove to be a worthy investment. The photo studios accept credit card, so you don't have to worry about carrying enough cash.
Our session took about 2.5 hours. Reservations are recommended. After some research, Cyndi found a studio called "White Ladder," and made an appointment via email. There isn't a lot of information online about Glamour Shot studios (in English), but here's a Japanese list of all the studios in Taipei. I think. The site also seems to feature coupons.
I should warn you that neither the studio staff nor the photographer will likely speak or understand English. They are more likely to be proficient in Japanese. My makeup artist, for example, only knew a few phrases: Go!, Stop!, Look at me.
The studio will ask you to pick out looks from their albums, but I believe that you can also bring in your own outfits. Most of their clientèle seems to be fairly slim and long, so if you, to borrow the words of Beyonce, are bootylicious, the studio will unlikely be "ready for your jelly."
Once we selected our looks, we were taken to a den of clothes and makeup.
The makeup artists applied some mysterious makeup base from a little vial. She said that it would make us "more beautiful." It costs 300TWD! This is why you should never nod before thinking.
Here we are with our saeng ogul (natural face), pre-glamour.
They lengthened Cyndi's hair with some extensions.
Check out the arsenal of makeup. Even if you select a "natural look" they will likely pack on a load of makeup. They use a variety of products including MAC, Bobbi Brown, and Etude House! In addition to plastering my face with foundation, my makeup artist added two layers of false lashes and taped my eyelids. I never thought I'd be one of those girls who taped my eyelids to get some ssankapul. It felt so strange.
Here are our first looks:
Cyndi went with the "natural" look.
I chose a "cute" look, which allowed me to try on some fake bangs.
For our second look, we both coincidentally went with a Chinese-ish look. I had originally wanted to wear this frilly mint green dress, but it did not fit.
I did not realize that the woman was going to stick a floral garden on top of my head.
Cyndi's look was more elegant. She must have been a wealthy Chinese concubine in her past life.
We asked the photographer to take a picture using our own cameras. He instructed us to pose with our hands at the side of our faces. I felt like a major cheeseball, but the picture turned out pretty well.
Cyndi and I were each assigned a photographer. Cyndi got a photographer that could speak a fair amount of English. I got a guy who only knew the phrases: Smile; Open mouth; Look at me. I felt bad for him. He seemed like he desperately wanted to give me more direction, but had to resort to posing me like a mannequin or miming his directions. I'm not even being false-modest when I say that I am terrible at posing. I basically had to mimic him for each shot. Let's just hope he's got some mad photoshop skills.
Usually, you return to the studio a few days later to pick out the photos for your album, but we had to go to Kaohsiung, so we entrusted the photographer with this important task. I'm excited, yet a little worried, to see what my photographer picks out. I really hope he doesn't pick out the one where I'm holding the stuffed dog.
The photos will be shipped to Korea in a couple of weeks.
Overall, I'd say that the whole glamour shot experience was worth it. It was fun to get all dolled up.
There are a number of studios throughout Taipei, but if you'd like to check out White Ladder, here are the directions:
-Take the MRT to Shuanglian.
-Take exit 1.
-Walk straight up the street for about 15 minutes.
- Make a right at Zhongyuan. (#8 Zhongyuan St.)
The studio also has a location in Ximen.
I will conclude with a removal of all the color and spackle.
Glamour-less from Annalog on Vimeo.
14 July 2008
Taiwan: Accommodations
We're back! Our stay in Taiwan was great, but I'm glad to be back. I have a lot of pics and comments to post, so there will be a lot of Taiwan talk for a short while.
I'll begin with my notes on transportation and accommodations in Taiwan. We took Thai Airways to Taoyuan International. Our flight was quite nice. The staff is very friendly, the interior of the plane is a vibrant purple, and we had our own individual screens. (Can't say the same for our return flight though). Thai Airways, by the way, has the most hypnotic safety instruction video I've ever made an effort to watch. The flight, a little over 2 hours, went by very quickly thanks to the on board media. I was finally able to watch Be Kind Rewind! (The film has its flaws, but its so very enjoyable.)
Once we arrived in Taoyuan, we purchased a SIM card (I brought my unlocked GSM phone from the Homeland). Then, we purchased shuttle tickets to Taipei Main Station from the first window that we could find. Unfortunately, this was a bad call. Our ticket was quite inexpensive at just 90TWD (about $3) -- suspiciously inexpensive. Our cheap seats got us a ride on the roundabout route that makes multiple stops, including a cruise down the street with all the Betel Nut Girls. I should have known we were on a poor choice in bus when the driver said with a quizzical look, "Taipei Main Station?"
I recommend that you shell out $12 or so for tickets for an express bus to Taipei.
Once we got to Taipei Station, we caught a taxi to our hotel in Songshan. It turns out that taxis are relatively more expensive than taxis in Seoul. The starting fee is 70TWD. Most Taipei drivers do not speak English, and our Mandarin accent is quite off, so it was a bit of a challenge to direct our driver. But, we worked it all out thanks to our map and broad gestures.
Cyndi and I shared a room at a budget hotel called Wonstar Hotel (not to be confused with Onestar Hotel). The hotel also goes by the name "Wantai Hotel." The exterior of the building is nothing to write home about, so I was quite surprised by the cleanliness of the room. The bathroom looked like it had been recently remodeled, and the bed was quite comfortable. I had no complaints. The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast, which included a buffet of congee, eggs, ham, toast, and other fixings that I imagine that your Taiwanese auntie would prepare for you on the weekend.
We arrived at the hotel in the evening, so most of the shops were closed, but we were able to check out Raohe Street Night Market.
The Wonstar is near many prominent spots including Taipei 101, City Hall, and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. It's also walking distance from the Yongchun MRT stop. Take exit 5. Head LEFT. Cross the bridge, and walk straight up the street for 7-10 minutes.
Due to room availability, we also had to book two nights at a hotel in Ximen, called King Shi Hotel. King Shi is not your typical hotel in that it only takes up two floors in a non-descript building. Since J.IM was joining us, we booked a deluxe double room. King Shi is located in the midst of the bustling Ximen district and is very close to Taipei Main Station. The room was big enough for three people, but the facilities were less shiny and new, at least in comparison to Wonstar. The bathroom was also a little small, and looked like it could use a little updating. Nonetheless, the hotel adequately clean and centrally located.
To find King Shi, take the MRT to Ximen. Take exit 6. Walk up Cheng Du St. Make a LEFT at Kuming St. (You should see a KFC and Family Mart).
Our humble little budget hotels in Taipei were sufficient, but they pale in comparison to the brand spankin' new Garden Villa in Kaohsiung. To our surprise, our room at Garden Villa was significantly less than our rooms at Wonstar and King Shi. Of course, we received a little discount thanks to our friends in Kaohshiung. More on Kaoshiung later...
We primarily got around Taipei on foot or the MRT, which thankfully, had many English signs. We did take a cab a few times. At the risk of harping, I just want to say that based on what I've observed, Taipei taxi drivers are a lot more helpful than Seoul taxi drivers. The Taipei drivers may not know a lick of English, but they'll help you load your bags into the trunk, unlike some Korean taxi drivers. Yeah, I'm talking about you Mr. Bundang Ajusshi, who just sat in your air conditioned cab, while we three ladies tried to swing our heavy bags into your crowded trunk.
I'll begin with my notes on transportation and accommodations in Taiwan. We took Thai Airways to Taoyuan International. Our flight was quite nice. The staff is very friendly, the interior of the plane is a vibrant purple, and we had our own individual screens. (Can't say the same for our return flight though). Thai Airways, by the way, has the most hypnotic safety instruction video I've ever made an effort to watch. The flight, a little over 2 hours, went by very quickly thanks to the on board media. I was finally able to watch Be Kind Rewind! (The film has its flaws, but its so very enjoyable.)
Once we arrived in Taoyuan, we purchased a SIM card (I brought my unlocked GSM phone from the Homeland). Then, we purchased shuttle tickets to Taipei Main Station from the first window that we could find. Unfortunately, this was a bad call. Our ticket was quite inexpensive at just 90TWD (about $3) -- suspiciously inexpensive. Our cheap seats got us a ride on the roundabout route that makes multiple stops, including a cruise down the street with all the Betel Nut Girls. I should have known we were on a poor choice in bus when the driver said with a quizzical look, "Taipei Main Station?"
I recommend that you shell out $12 or so for tickets for an express bus to Taipei.
Once we got to Taipei Station, we caught a taxi to our hotel in Songshan. It turns out that taxis are relatively more expensive than taxis in Seoul. The starting fee is 70TWD. Most Taipei drivers do not speak English, and our Mandarin accent is quite off, so it was a bit of a challenge to direct our driver. But, we worked it all out thanks to our map and broad gestures.
Cyndi and I shared a room at a budget hotel called Wonstar Hotel (not to be confused with Onestar Hotel). The hotel also goes by the name "Wantai Hotel." The exterior of the building is nothing to write home about, so I was quite surprised by the cleanliness of the room. The bathroom looked like it had been recently remodeled, and the bed was quite comfortable. I had no complaints. The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast, which included a buffet of congee, eggs, ham, toast, and other fixings that I imagine that your Taiwanese auntie would prepare for you on the weekend.
We arrived at the hotel in the evening, so most of the shops were closed, but we were able to check out Raohe Street Night Market.
The Wonstar is near many prominent spots including Taipei 101, City Hall, and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. It's also walking distance from the Yongchun MRT stop. Take exit 5. Head LEFT. Cross the bridge, and walk straight up the street for 7-10 minutes.
Due to room availability, we also had to book two nights at a hotel in Ximen, called King Shi Hotel. King Shi is not your typical hotel in that it only takes up two floors in a non-descript building. Since J.IM was joining us, we booked a deluxe double room. King Shi is located in the midst of the bustling Ximen district and is very close to Taipei Main Station. The room was big enough for three people, but the facilities were less shiny and new, at least in comparison to Wonstar. The bathroom was also a little small, and looked like it could use a little updating. Nonetheless, the hotel adequately clean and centrally located.
To find King Shi, take the MRT to Ximen. Take exit 6. Walk up Cheng Du St. Make a LEFT at Kuming St. (You should see a KFC and Family Mart).
Our humble little budget hotels in Taipei were sufficient, but they pale in comparison to the brand spankin' new Garden Villa in Kaohsiung. To our surprise, our room at Garden Villa was significantly less than our rooms at Wonstar and King Shi. Of course, we received a little discount thanks to our friends in Kaohshiung. More on Kaoshiung later...
We primarily got around Taipei on foot or the MRT, which thankfully, had many English signs. We did take a cab a few times. At the risk of harping, I just want to say that based on what I've observed, Taipei taxi drivers are a lot more helpful than Seoul taxi drivers. The Taipei drivers may not know a lick of English, but they'll help you load your bags into the trunk, unlike some Korean taxi drivers. Yeah, I'm talking about you Mr. Bundang Ajusshi, who just sat in your air conditioned cab, while we three ladies tried to swing our heavy bags into your crowded trunk.
12 July 2008
Heading to Kaoishung
It's our last night in Taipei, and I have too admit that my enthusiasm for Taipei has dimmed a bit. The unexpected downpour today and my inability to read or speak any Chinese seems to have dampened a bit of the fun. I had heard that English teaching opportunities are growing in Taiwan, so I had assumed that Taipei folks would know a bit of English. Unfortunately, aside from navigating the metro system, English is quite useless. Many sales people speak Japanese, but rarely do they speak or understand English.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to miss the hustle and bustle of Seoul. I had expected Taipei to be brimming with pedestrians, but most people seem to be riding around in cars. Ximen can be quite busy during the day, but at night, the streets empty and the neighborhood seems seedier. Most shops and restaurants close around 10 or 11 pm, and I don't know where people go afterwards. Fortunately the massage and spa places open until the early morning. Last night we got a half body massage and a foot spa/massage. My masseuse ended up giving me a full body massage. I'm not sure if I should be concerned or grateful. Neither Cyndi nor JIm received a full body massage. Why do I always end up with the shady massage guys?
Don't be alarmed mom. The massage was done over a blanket, so it was all quite safe. Actually, it was all quite painful. When I say massage, I mean, reflexology massage. Reflexology is not really about relaxation. Rather, it's about improving one's health. The practicioners forcefully prod and pound every tender spot in your foot/body to stimulate blood circulation and improve aspects of your physiology. I had forgotten that reflexology massages were so painful. The after effects are great, but the whole process can be quite uncomfortable.
We're going to take the bullet train (HSR) to Kaoishung tomorrow, where we'll meet up with some friends who are thankfully, Taiwan natives. It'll be great to finally eat at restaurants without needing to look at a picture menu!
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to miss the hustle and bustle of Seoul. I had expected Taipei to be brimming with pedestrians, but most people seem to be riding around in cars. Ximen can be quite busy during the day, but at night, the streets empty and the neighborhood seems seedier. Most shops and restaurants close around 10 or 11 pm, and I don't know where people go afterwards. Fortunately the massage and spa places open until the early morning. Last night we got a half body massage and a foot spa/massage. My masseuse ended up giving me a full body massage. I'm not sure if I should be concerned or grateful. Neither Cyndi nor JIm received a full body massage. Why do I always end up with the shady massage guys?
Don't be alarmed mom. The massage was done over a blanket, so it was all quite safe. Actually, it was all quite painful. When I say massage, I mean, reflexology massage. Reflexology is not really about relaxation. Rather, it's about improving one's health. The practicioners forcefully prod and pound every tender spot in your foot/body to stimulate blood circulation and improve aspects of your physiology. I had forgotten that reflexology massages were so painful. The after effects are great, but the whole process can be quite uncomfortable.
We're going to take the bullet train (HSR) to Kaoishung tomorrow, where we'll meet up with some friends who are thankfully, Taiwan natives. It'll be great to finally eat at restaurants without needing to look at a picture menu!
10 July 2008
Taipei: First Impression
We made it to Taiwan, and it's been quite fun thus far. I heard that the humidity can get pretty nasty this time of year, but it doesn't seem so bad (knock on wood), or at least, it's better than Seoul weather. It's hot, but at least there's a bit of an island breeze.
I would say that Taiwan is like Chinatown with a dash of Seoul and a smidgen of Japan. Or, as Cyndi describes, it's like Seoul, only two decades ago.
Last night we stayed in the Song Sang district, an area near City Hall. At first, it seemed to be pretty boring (maybe even a little seedy), but then we turned a corner and found a night market. We stayed at a budget hotel called Won Star aka Wan Tai Hotel. It looked a little suspect, but the room was clean and comfortable.
Since JIm will be joining us today, we've moved to a hotel in the trendy Ximen district. The hotel, King Shi is another budget hotel, but it's clean and the location is great. I would liken Ximen to Myeongdong, only more sprawling.
Cyndi and I were deciding between a trip to Thailand and a trip to Taiwan. I'm very glad that we picked Taiwan. It's a haven of cheap eats, cheap clothing, and cute character paraphenalia. I didn not realize that the Japanese influence was so prevalent. You can find Japanese "imports" all around town. We're even finding all sorts of unnecessary, but cute Domokun and Gaspard et Lisa accesories. The fashion also seems to be heavily influenced by Japanese trends, only the clothes are brighter and more bling (You can even find Cosplay here). Taiwanese girls seem to like the shorty shorts, but unlike Korean women and their fake Manolos, Taipei girls tend to were slippers or flats. That's how we island people roll.
My Taiwanese classmate told me that women are prettier in Seoul, but men are better looking in Taiwan. Based on what I've seen so far, I think this statement is still up for debate. I'm not really feeling the Taiwanese Pop Idol haircuts.
It's day 2 out of 5, the highlights so far are:
- Getting my entire face threaded
- Eating Taiwanese Beef Noodles
- Drinking Bubble Tea
- Glamour Shots
I, of course, will post more details, as well as pictures, when I return.
I would say that Taiwan is like Chinatown with a dash of Seoul and a smidgen of Japan. Or, as Cyndi describes, it's like Seoul, only two decades ago.
Last night we stayed in the Song Sang district, an area near City Hall. At first, it seemed to be pretty boring (maybe even a little seedy), but then we turned a corner and found a night market. We stayed at a budget hotel called Won Star aka Wan Tai Hotel. It looked a little suspect, but the room was clean and comfortable.
Since JIm will be joining us today, we've moved to a hotel in the trendy Ximen district. The hotel, King Shi is another budget hotel, but it's clean and the location is great. I would liken Ximen to Myeongdong, only more sprawling.
Cyndi and I were deciding between a trip to Thailand and a trip to Taiwan. I'm very glad that we picked Taiwan. It's a haven of cheap eats, cheap clothing, and cute character paraphenalia. I didn not realize that the Japanese influence was so prevalent. You can find Japanese "imports" all around town. We're even finding all sorts of unnecessary, but cute Domokun and Gaspard et Lisa accesories. The fashion also seems to be heavily influenced by Japanese trends, only the clothes are brighter and more bling (You can even find Cosplay here). Taiwanese girls seem to like the shorty shorts, but unlike Korean women and their fake Manolos, Taipei girls tend to were slippers or flats. That's how we island people roll.
My Taiwanese classmate told me that women are prettier in Seoul, but men are better looking in Taiwan. Based on what I've seen so far, I think this statement is still up for debate. I'm not really feeling the Taiwanese Pop Idol haircuts.
It's day 2 out of 5, the highlights so far are:
- Getting my entire face threaded
- Eating Taiwanese Beef Noodles
- Drinking Bubble Tea
- Glamour Shots
I, of course, will post more details, as well as pictures, when I return.
04 July 2008
Going to Taiwan!
Cyndi and I are going to meet up with J.Im next week and have a look around Taiwan. If you have any tips on things to do, places to see, or more importantly, where to eat, please leave your suggestions in the comments section of this post.
Xie xie.
Xie xie.
12 December 2007
Tokyo Day 3
As usual, the video scrapbook's buried beneath all of the rambling.
We left the onsen bright and early, and decided to do a brief, walking self-tour of Odaiba, following the train line. I was really curious about the Sega Joypolis that we saw on our way into Odaiba, but of course it was closed.
Sega, Sega!
From what I could observe, Odaiba is a very quiet town. At least, on a Sunday morning. It was almost like the opening scene of 28 Days Later. The town seemed so empty. Even the roads were eerily empty. But, then we came across this long line of sports cars. There had to be about 20 of those Lotus cars. It's a car club! How cute.
Odaiba also features a mini replica of the Statue of Liberty, a very odd sight to see in Japan.
We headed back into the bustling part of Tokyo to investigate why Gwen Stefani is so enamored with those Harajuku Girls. We started with the Meiji shrine, because it was still too early to do anything else. The shrine was quite beautiful, and there had to be at least five weddings that day.
After the shrine, we weaved our way through Harajuku and Shibuya. With the exception of Daiso, a 100 yen chain store, we didn't do much shopping. I have to say that if you're looking to buy trendy shoes and clothes on the cheap, you can't beat Seoul. Well, perhaps China would offer some deals, but I've never been there, so I have no idea. There were lots of interesting fashion items, but I thought the prices were too high for such zaniness. Daiso was also quite a disappointment. I was much more impressed by the Daly City Daiso.
Speaking of fashion, I did not take very many photos of the Tokyo street fashions. Sometimes I am struck with these odd notions of privacy and intrusiveness, so I felt bad about treating the youth of Tokyo like some tourist attraction. Though, I suppose that if you're going to dress like a punked out little shepherdess with hot pink hair, then you're probably asking people to gawk at you. Cyndi and I did buy a couple of Japanese fashion magazines, so perhaps I'll showcase a few photos from them in a future post.
After Yoyogi park and our face time with the infamous Domokun, I seemed to have stopped taking photos. Our last night in Tokyo was spent in Shinjuku, which is famous for that huge pedestrian four-way crosswalk. Shinjuku was probably my least favorite neighborhood. It seemed to consist mostly of bars and restaurants. We stayed at the Hotel Rose Garden Shinjuku. The room was small, but I understand that's typical of hotels in Tokyo. I recommend dishing out the extra $80 or so and staying somewhere a little nicer. The Shinjuku Prince looked pretty decent, at least from the outside.
Maybe my opinion of Shinjuku is also tainted by the fact that I did not get to eat any kobe steak. Perhaps it was because I do not know the kanji for kobe steak, but I could not find an establishment that sold such steak. Bummer.
Instead, we had to settle for some sushi.
By the way, does this dude remind you of anyone that we know?
We left the onsen bright and early, and decided to do a brief, walking self-tour of Odaiba, following the train line. I was really curious about the Sega Joypolis that we saw on our way into Odaiba, but of course it was closed.
Sega, Sega!
From what I could observe, Odaiba is a very quiet town. At least, on a Sunday morning. It was almost like the opening scene of 28 Days Later. The town seemed so empty. Even the roads were eerily empty. But, then we came across this long line of sports cars. There had to be about 20 of those Lotus cars. It's a car club! How cute.
Odaiba also features a mini replica of the Statue of Liberty, a very odd sight to see in Japan.
We headed back into the bustling part of Tokyo to investigate why Gwen Stefani is so enamored with those Harajuku Girls. We started with the Meiji shrine, because it was still too early to do anything else. The shrine was quite beautiful, and there had to be at least five weddings that day.
After the shrine, we weaved our way through Harajuku and Shibuya. With the exception of Daiso, a 100 yen chain store, we didn't do much shopping. I have to say that if you're looking to buy trendy shoes and clothes on the cheap, you can't beat Seoul. Well, perhaps China would offer some deals, but I've never been there, so I have no idea. There were lots of interesting fashion items, but I thought the prices were too high for such zaniness. Daiso was also quite a disappointment. I was much more impressed by the Daly City Daiso.
Speaking of fashion, I did not take very many photos of the Tokyo street fashions. Sometimes I am struck with these odd notions of privacy and intrusiveness, so I felt bad about treating the youth of Tokyo like some tourist attraction. Though, I suppose that if you're going to dress like a punked out little shepherdess with hot pink hair, then you're probably asking people to gawk at you. Cyndi and I did buy a couple of Japanese fashion magazines, so perhaps I'll showcase a few photos from them in a future post.
After Yoyogi park and our face time with the infamous Domokun, I seemed to have stopped taking photos. Our last night in Tokyo was spent in Shinjuku, which is famous for that huge pedestrian four-way crosswalk. Shinjuku was probably my least favorite neighborhood. It seemed to consist mostly of bars and restaurants. We stayed at the Hotel Rose Garden Shinjuku. The room was small, but I understand that's typical of hotels in Tokyo. I recommend dishing out the extra $80 or so and staying somewhere a little nicer. The Shinjuku Prince looked pretty decent, at least from the outside.
Maybe my opinion of Shinjuku is also tainted by the fact that I did not get to eat any kobe steak. Perhaps it was because I do not know the kanji for kobe steak, but I could not find an establishment that sold such steak. Bummer.
Instead, we had to settle for some sushi.
By the way, does this dude remind you of anyone that we know?
Rumble in Yoyogi
Check out the video at the end of the post.
The highlight reel for Tokyo Day 3 is forthcoming, but I just had to make a video for the incredible extravaganza at Yoyogi Park. We walked along the perimeter of the park on our way from Harajuku to Shibuya. To our great surprise, we came across a goldmine of entertainment (or was it more like a land mine?). The sidewalks of Yoyogi are littered with all sorts of performers. I've seen a number of street performers back at home, but I've never seen an array that was soclosetogether. There were rows of bands with no more than ten meters between each of them.
Alright, who am I kidding? I still can't guesstimate in metric units. I should have said: The bands were about three feet away from each other.
In my humble opinion, it seems more prudent to distance your band from the raging rock band immediately to your left, but in Yoyogi, it seems like the bands enjoy the literally close competition. Also, most of the bands come equipped with their own amplification system. Walking past the stream of rock bands, was akin to slowly turning the dial on a FM radio. There was a lot of noise, but you still managed to pick up some decent snippets of music.
My favorite performance was probably the street magician who turned a piece of paper into a potato. Unfortunately, I didn't catch his schtick on camera, because I was so enraptured with all the "magic."
I also enjoyed what seemed like a dueling gang of dancing greasers. I vaguely recall seeing some MTV News piece on this dance movement, where these Japanese men express their passion for '50s rock culture through impromptu boogie sessions. I just never imagined that they did this in such a public area.
I happily captured two separate dance gangs? on camera. In my opinion, the first group had more moves, but the second troupe, even though it was rather chilly, tried to make up for their lack of choreography by going shirtless. I call the rumble a draw, but you be the judge for yourself.
The highlight reel for Tokyo Day 3 is forthcoming, but I just had to make a video for the incredible extravaganza at Yoyogi Park. We walked along the perimeter of the park on our way from Harajuku to Shibuya. To our great surprise, we came across a goldmine of entertainment (or was it more like a land mine?). The sidewalks of Yoyogi are littered with all sorts of performers. I've seen a number of street performers back at home, but I've never seen an array that was soclosetogether. There were rows of bands with no more than ten meters between each of them.
Alright, who am I kidding? I still can't guesstimate in metric units. I should have said: The bands were about three feet away from each other.
In my humble opinion, it seems more prudent to distance your band from the raging rock band immediately to your left, but in Yoyogi, it seems like the bands enjoy the literally close competition. Also, most of the bands come equipped with their own amplification system. Walking past the stream of rock bands, was akin to slowly turning the dial on a FM radio. There was a lot of noise, but you still managed to pick up some decent snippets of music.
My favorite performance was probably the street magician who turned a piece of paper into a potato. Unfortunately, I didn't catch his schtick on camera, because I was so enraptured with all the "magic."
I also enjoyed what seemed like a dueling gang of dancing greasers. I vaguely recall seeing some MTV News piece on this dance movement, where these Japanese men express their passion for '50s rock culture through impromptu boogie sessions. I just never imagined that they did this in such a public area.
I happily captured two separate dance gangs? on camera. In my opinion, the first group had more moves, but the second troupe, even though it was rather chilly, tried to make up for their lack of choreography by going shirtless. I call the rumble a draw, but you be the judge for yourself.
10 December 2007
Tokyo Day 2
Feel free to skip the narrative and head straight for the video at the end of the post.
We spent our second morning in Tokyo checking out the chic Ginza district. Ginza apparently has a similar feel to NYC's Fifth Avenue. The area is quite posh, but dominated by many Western luxury brand stores. It's a nice area to stroll through and eye shop. Ginza also features one of Tokyo's largest toy stores, Hakuhinkan Toy Park. We also stopped by the famous Kimuraya-pan bakery, and it made me miss the Kimuraya back in Kaimuki (though I don't think they're affiliated).
After Ginza, we headed over to Roppongi Hills, which is marketed as the Beverly Hills of Tokyo. Roppongi features a humongous mall that makes my head spin just thinking about it. This is sort of the Tokyo I envisioned, lots of sleek skyscrapers and interesting buildings.
Side note: The streets of Tokyo are quite clean, especially in comparison to Seoul. At first, I thought this was because the city of Seoul does not provide public trash cans, but I didn't see very many public bins in Tokyo either. Could it be that the people of Tokyo actually hold on to their trash until they find an appropriate receptacle? That's craaaaaazy.
I digress. Anyway, after some sushi in Roppongi, we took the train to Odaiba to check in for an evening at the Ooedo-Onsen-Monogatari, a self-described "hot springs theme park." The onsen was probably one of the highlights of the trip. I'm still not too big on sharing public bath water, but you don't go to a hot springs to walk around in a yukata. I have to admit, the hot baths were pretty nice. Cyndi and I also paid to have the dead skin on our feet eaten by the so-called "doctor fish." It's not as gruesome as it sounds. It's actually quite ticklish. Actually, a little embarrassing as well. Most people had a handful of fish nibbling at their toes, while Cyndi and I were inundated with swarms of fish. It seemed as if half the pool was buffeting it up at our weary feet. I also really enjoyed walking around in the yukata. The skirt of the robe and the fear of pulling a Britney forces you to walk like a lady, or at least like a geisha. For an additional $15, you can stay overnight. Women may rest on some cushions in the ladies only relaxation room. If you're a light sleeper, this may not be your cup of tea because women often move in and out of the room. I, however, slept very comfortably.
Edit: Oops. My bad. That was Asahi TV (Roppongi Hills). Fuji TV is located in Odaiba.
We spent our second morning in Tokyo checking out the chic Ginza district. Ginza apparently has a similar feel to NYC's Fifth Avenue. The area is quite posh, but dominated by many Western luxury brand stores. It's a nice area to stroll through and eye shop. Ginza also features one of Tokyo's largest toy stores, Hakuhinkan Toy Park. We also stopped by the famous Kimuraya-pan bakery, and it made me miss the Kimuraya back in Kaimuki (though I don't think they're affiliated).
After Ginza, we headed over to Roppongi Hills, which is marketed as the Beverly Hills of Tokyo. Roppongi features a humongous mall that makes my head spin just thinking about it. This is sort of the Tokyo I envisioned, lots of sleek skyscrapers and interesting buildings.
Side note: The streets of Tokyo are quite clean, especially in comparison to Seoul. At first, I thought this was because the city of Seoul does not provide public trash cans, but I didn't see very many public bins in Tokyo either. Could it be that the people of Tokyo actually hold on to their trash until they find an appropriate receptacle? That's craaaaaazy.
I digress. Anyway, after some sushi in Roppongi, we took the train to Odaiba to check in for an evening at the Ooedo-Onsen-Monogatari, a self-described "hot springs theme park." The onsen was probably one of the highlights of the trip. I'm still not too big on sharing public bath water, but you don't go to a hot springs to walk around in a yukata. I have to admit, the hot baths were pretty nice. Cyndi and I also paid to have the dead skin on our feet eaten by the so-called "doctor fish." It's not as gruesome as it sounds. It's actually quite ticklish. Actually, a little embarrassing as well. Most people had a handful of fish nibbling at their toes, while Cyndi and I were inundated with swarms of fish. It seemed as if half the pool was buffeting it up at our weary feet. I also really enjoyed walking around in the yukata. The skirt of the robe and the fear of pulling a Britney forces you to walk like a lady, or at least like a geisha. For an additional $15, you can stay overnight. Women may rest on some cushions in the ladies only relaxation room. If you're a light sleeper, this may not be your cup of tea because women often move in and out of the room. I, however, slept very comfortably.
Edit: Oops. My bad. That was Asahi TV (Roppongi Hills). Fuji TV is located in Odaiba.
06 December 2007
Tokyo Day 1: Asakusa and Akihabara
We arrived in Tokyo around 2 pm or so, then stored our bags in a locker at Ueno station. Based on proximity, we decided to check out the Asakusa neighborhood.
As I mentioned previously, we lost our "No Plan, No Problem" guide to Tokyo, but we managed to get by with one of those free English brochures from the airport. The brochure featured handy profiles of the most popular neighborhoods in Tokyo. Unfortunately, the neighborhood maps were pretty terrible. The map was filled with western reference points like TGI Friday's, the Gap, or Citibank, which was not very helpful when asking a local Japanese person for directions.
We arrived in Asakusa without much of a game plan, but the neighborhood looked very promising once we were greeted by this large, golden sweet potato!
Asakusa features a nice little marketplace, a warren of small shops selling snacks and souvenirs. It has a similar vibe to the International Marketplace in Waikiki.
Listen to the dog: "Smile everyday."
Our first day in Tokyo was marred by rain, but to our great luck, we found an abandoned (or more likely, forgotten) umbrella on the Keisei train from Narita airport. Tokyo totally loves us.
Throughout the marketplace, you'll find a dozen of snack shops selling fresh, seasoned rice crackers. I totally thought these were made in a factory in China.
After a walk through the market, we stopped by the Asakusa Tourist Information Center, which is located somewhere near this cool Seiko clock. At the start of every hour, this little animatronic (is that word or just something that Disney made up?) troupe performs a taiko number.
Asakusa also features an area known as Kappabayagi (or something like that), a large block of kitchen supply wholesalers. They had stores bursting with all sorts of cooking and baking supplies. I even found a store selling fake food displays used in restaurants. I find fake food strangely appealing.
Following the suggestion of the nice lady at the tourist info, we also checked out a nearby shrine.
We're not clear on the details, but we saw a bunch of people basking themselves in the burning incense, so we, of course, did the same. I'm hoping it was all for good luck, and not just something that stupid tourists get fooled into doing.
After Asakusa, we headed to Akihabara to check in at the Capsule Inn. Akihabara is the home of otaku, "geek culture," so I thought that I'd feel at home. But, it turns out that "geek culture" entails an extreme interest in video games, electronics, manga, and dressing up in costumes. I guess that's why it's more accurate to say that I am nerd, not a geek.
We stopped and played some old school Super Mario off an interesting console that is not made by Nintendo. I played for a little bit, and those stupid turtle-bird creatures totally kicked my butt.
I think this photo pretty much captures the essence of Akihabara, at least as far as I've seen: a multi-storied Taito arcade, a bunch of manga related shops, and Don Quiojte. If you've ever been to the Don Quiojte in Honolulu, you know how crazy that this mega-mart can be. If fact, I would say that the Don Quiojte in Tokyo is ten times as crazy. It's bursting with all sorts of costumes, cosmetics, and groceries.
We spent a couple of hundred yen (a few dollars) fruitlessly trying to win one of these amazing prizes from the claw machines.
These rodents are cute, yet disturbing -- something my sister would enjoy.
Huge boxes of those koala biscuits -- something that Stacy would also enjoy.
After hitting up a karaoke and murdering a few Mariah Carey songs, we checked in for the night at the Capsule Inn in Akihabara. The capsule is a nice option if you want to save a little yen, and don't mind small spaces.
A stay in the capsule is about $40 a night, and the inn accepts credit cards. Reservations are not required, but recommended during high travel times. Since capsule inns are usually frequented by salary men, I had my reservations; especially when the manager was like, "You know that this is a capsule inn, right?"
Women get their own floor. The female floors are accessed by a key, so we were allowed to bring our luggage up to the capsule rooms. Otherwise, I believe that luggage must be left in the lobby area. They give you a little chain lock to secure the luggage to something heavy.
Overall, I felt quite safe, and the inn is clean enough.
The capsules comes with a yukata robe, towels, and a toothbrush. The bedding is quite comfortable, and the rooms are nice and toasty.
You can even watch some TV or listen to the radio.
In my opinion, the capsules are quite roomy, though I should note that I'm rather short.
Just pull down the shade for some privacy.
I wonder if we have capsule inns in America. Probably not. We're pretty big on personal space in America.
As I mentioned previously, we lost our "No Plan, No Problem" guide to Tokyo, but we managed to get by with one of those free English brochures from the airport. The brochure featured handy profiles of the most popular neighborhoods in Tokyo. Unfortunately, the neighborhood maps were pretty terrible. The map was filled with western reference points like TGI Friday's, the Gap, or Citibank, which was not very helpful when asking a local Japanese person for directions.
We arrived in Asakusa without much of a game plan, but the neighborhood looked very promising once we were greeted by this large, golden sweet potato!
Asakusa features a nice little marketplace, a warren of small shops selling snacks and souvenirs. It has a similar vibe to the International Marketplace in Waikiki.
Listen to the dog: "Smile everyday."
Our first day in Tokyo was marred by rain, but to our great luck, we found an abandoned (or more likely, forgotten) umbrella on the Keisei train from Narita airport. Tokyo totally loves us.
Throughout the marketplace, you'll find a dozen of snack shops selling fresh, seasoned rice crackers. I totally thought these were made in a factory in China.
After a walk through the market, we stopped by the Asakusa Tourist Information Center, which is located somewhere near this cool Seiko clock. At the start of every hour, this little animatronic (is that word or just something that Disney made up?) troupe performs a taiko number.
Asakusa also features an area known as Kappabayagi (or something like that), a large block of kitchen supply wholesalers. They had stores bursting with all sorts of cooking and baking supplies. I even found a store selling fake food displays used in restaurants. I find fake food strangely appealing.
Following the suggestion of the nice lady at the tourist info, we also checked out a nearby shrine.
We're not clear on the details, but we saw a bunch of people basking themselves in the burning incense, so we, of course, did the same. I'm hoping it was all for good luck, and not just something that stupid tourists get fooled into doing.
After Asakusa, we headed to Akihabara to check in at the Capsule Inn. Akihabara is the home of otaku, "geek culture," so I thought that I'd feel at home. But, it turns out that "geek culture" entails an extreme interest in video games, electronics, manga, and dressing up in costumes. I guess that's why it's more accurate to say that I am nerd, not a geek.
We stopped and played some old school Super Mario off an interesting console that is not made by Nintendo. I played for a little bit, and those stupid turtle-bird creatures totally kicked my butt.
I think this photo pretty much captures the essence of Akihabara, at least as far as I've seen: a multi-storied Taito arcade, a bunch of manga related shops, and Don Quiojte. If you've ever been to the Don Quiojte in Honolulu, you know how crazy that this mega-mart can be. If fact, I would say that the Don Quiojte in Tokyo is ten times as crazy. It's bursting with all sorts of costumes, cosmetics, and groceries.
We spent a couple of hundred yen (a few dollars) fruitlessly trying to win one of these amazing prizes from the claw machines.
These rodents are cute, yet disturbing -- something my sister would enjoy.
Huge boxes of those koala biscuits -- something that Stacy would also enjoy.
After hitting up a karaoke and murdering a few Mariah Carey songs, we checked in for the night at the Capsule Inn in Akihabara. The capsule is a nice option if you want to save a little yen, and don't mind small spaces.
A stay in the capsule is about $40 a night, and the inn accepts credit cards. Reservations are not required, but recommended during high travel times. Since capsule inns are usually frequented by salary men, I had my reservations; especially when the manager was like, "You know that this is a capsule inn, right?"
Women get their own floor. The female floors are accessed by a key, so we were allowed to bring our luggage up to the capsule rooms. Otherwise, I believe that luggage must be left in the lobby area. They give you a little chain lock to secure the luggage to something heavy.
Overall, I felt quite safe, and the inn is clean enough.
The capsules comes with a yukata robe, towels, and a toothbrush. The bedding is quite comfortable, and the rooms are nice and toasty.
You can even watch some TV or listen to the radio.
In my opinion, the capsules are quite roomy, though I should note that I'm rather short.
Just pull down the shade for some privacy.
I wonder if we have capsule inns in America. Probably not. We're pretty big on personal space in America.
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