Asakusa - Day Trip

I wanted to share some photos of Asakusa; famous with tourists not only for its temples but also for its winding back alley streets with food stalls, souvenir shops and rickshaws. Asakusa is always our preferred base when we are in Tokyo. It's quiet yet convenient.

When one think of Asakusa, one would think of Sensoji Temple. Here in the photo is the Kaminarimon (or Thunder) gate. Just behind that gate is Nakamise-dori, there is a shopping street with more than 50 shops selling local specialties and souvenir items. Nakamise-dori ends at the temple second gate, Hozomon.

 

A magnet for local and foreign tourists alike, this place will be swarmed with people come weekends and public holidays. Be prepared for a huge crowd if you come during these times.

It is nicer to visit the temple complex early in the morning when there were only locals about without the tourists crush.

Away from Nakamise-dori but still nearby to the temple complex, you can experience more vibrant alley with plenty more shops.

There are a few supermarkets around too. We always buy our fruits here. The residential feel of the place is what drawn us to Asakusa every time. I always love to walk around the area with Raimie in the evening (while Zaini went on his solo trip), meeting friendly people along the way.

If we were staying at Toyoko-Inn Asakusa Komagata, there is a bonus for Raimie before reaching our hotel. The hotel was nearby Bandai Office and outside the office were statues of Doraemon, Ultraman, Gundam, to name a few. He loves taking photos there. We literally had hundreds of them in our collection.

Doraemon in a raincoat because it rained earlier. Even Ultraman statue had one.

For Entrecard members, my EC profile banner is of Hanayashiki Amusement Park; located in Asakusa. The amusement park is more than 150 years old and is the oldest amusement park in Japan. The area around Hanayashiki is quite "interesting" with what I think several 'adult" theaters about.

Some photos on my post a year back, here. 

A Day With Zoffy At Ultraman Club

After meeting with Ultraman Mebius the day before, Raimie was pretty excited at the chance of meeting with Zoffy (a senior ranking Ultraman, for those not in the know). After checking out from Nikko Kawasaki Hotel, we went back to Lazona and head towards Ultraman Club again.

Zoffy's appearance. Unlike Ultraman Mebius appearance that came with a live show, Zoffy only interacted with the children. Not that Raimie complained.

 

A chance for a photo with Zoffy is not to be missed.

 

Then, after everyone had taken their photos with Zoffy, it was time to learn some cool moves together.

 

All too soon, it's time to bid farewell to Zoffy.

We initially planned for just on visit to Ultraman Club but it turned out that we made two visits there. Raimie enjoyed himself, not only because he gets to meet his heroes but also because he got to play with other kids.

He's already talking (trying to brainwash me, more like) about us making a return visit to Kawasaki, specifically to Ultraman Club. Mommy and Daddy better starting savings lots of money now!

A Dose Of Energy Anyone?

There are two drinks from Japan both Zaini and Raimie love, apart from Calpis and they are Dekavita C and Oronamin C. Both are energy drinks from Japan. In Japan, energy drinks are almost legendary as the energy drink dates as far back as in the 1960s aimed at all those hardworking salarymen needing a boost after a hard day's work or curing a hangover.

In Japan, these energy drinks are easily accessible and you can buy them from the vending machine. No shortage of energy drinks there.

Dekavita C from Suntory and Raimie happy being allowed to drink one. Well, once a month anyway.

Filled with sweet delicious nectar, it is said to be filled with loads of vitamin wonder with ingredients listed: fructose, dextroglucose, sugar, royal jelly, citric acid, vitamin C, B1, B6, B2, B12, caffeine, glutamic acid, B-Carotin.

Oranamin C, an energy drink from Otsuka which also produce Pocari Sweat.

Its ingredients include sugar, glucose, fructose, syrup, honey, salt, artificial flavor, vitamin C, cintric Acid, caffeine, ciacinamide, pyridoxine, hydrochloride, riboflavin, methyl, hesperidin, isoleucine, threonine, phenylalanine and a dose of MSG too.

For me, they taste pretty much like a fizzy version of Red Bull, to which I have no liking of (they taste like sweet&bitter cough medicine, blergh!). Zaini disagree with me on this, however. Needless to say, I'm not too crazy about these drinks. They are way too sweet for me but Zaini and Raimie loves them. Why don't you try one and decide. If you like very sweet, fizzy drinks, you might like these energy drinks. I don't know whether these drinks do provide energy but I think it'll give you a quick burst of hyperactivity after drinking it.

Zaini and Raimie drink this for fun because what kid doesn't like sweet, sugary stuff?

A bottle is priced RM7.90 (used to cost only RM5.50 but yen has gone up against RM,*sob sob*) and you can find them at any Japanese stores in KL: Jusco, Isetan, Shojikiya, to name a few. Though at the moment Jusco is running low on these drinks. No stock of Calpis either. I think people started to buy them after reading and salivating of Ladyviral's post on her Calpis drinking experience. LOL

Anyway, what's you favourite energy drink?

And The Prize Goes To...

Remember my post earlier; about giving away a book written by Hajah Halela titled Pulut Sakura Serunding Kasih?

Am happy to inform the winner is Nick Phillips of Anything Goes. Nick e-mailed me the correct answer within minutes after my post was published.

The book is on its way to Nick and hopefully he’ll receive it soon. But first Nick, you haven't replied to my e-mail yet!

Congrats Nick!

A Close Encounter With Ultraman Mebius And Empera Seijin

Going to Ultraman Club, in Namco Wonderpark Heros' Base in Kawasaki, Raimie wouldn't miss meeting his favourite heroes at any cost!

For us, the main highlight of going to any Ultraman themed places is meeting the Ultra Heroes themselves, be it at Ultraman Festival, Ultramanland, Ultraman Stadium, Tsuburaya Jungle or here at Ultraman Club.

The stage area

The staff setting the mood for the appearance of Ultraman Mebius battling Empera Seijin. Just look at the kids' concentration.

 

The appearance of Empera Seijin to battle Ultraman Mebius, right in front of the children. For any Ultraman fan, you can't get anything cooler than this. The "live show" went about for a few minutes with plenty of tumbling, fighting and lighting effects, much to the joy of the kids.

 

Raimie being "protected" by the staff member against any attack from Empera Seijin.

 

As expected, Ultraman Mebius won the battle. After Empera Seijin was gone, it was time for Ultraman Mebius to teach the kids some cool moves and gave some advice. Children, listen to what Mebius has to say now. :)

 

Then, it was time for group photo. There was no individual photo session with Mebius, so everyone had to make do with this group photo session.

 

And all too soon, it was time to bid "sayonara" to Mebius.

Was Raimie happy? Definitely! It's all worthwhile taking this trip from Tokyo to Kawasaki. Heck, we made our way to Kyushu the last two years to visit Ultramanland and even traipsed the countryside to go to Terai in Komatsu, Kanazawa for Ultraman Stadium, you know!

But maybe, he'll get way too cool and big to be such an Ultraman fanatic in years to come. Well, he still has his Kamen Rider that he love.

A Japanese Food Court Experience In Kawasaki

Still writing about our visit to Kawasaki...

We learn early on, on previous trips; to always take whatever promotional handouts given out because some of them might actually save us some $$$. That and the packets and packets of free tissues readily given out in Japan, though a friend who just came back from a trip there complained that the free tissues handouts had lessen considerably now.

We wouldn't have known about the Eki Cafe at Kawasaki station or be interested to check the place out if not for the coupons being given out to commuters and passers-by at the station. Those are discount coupons to be used at outlets in the food court.  The food was reasonably priced and we ended up visiting the food court twice while we were in Kawasaki.

Travelling all the way to Japan, I had bibimbap for lunch in a Kawasaki food court. LOL I didn't order any drinks because water was free here.

A nifty little device that lets you know it's time to collect your food. It will beep (and continue to do so) when your food is ready to be collected. No need for the shop owner to holler for you! Just hand back the device and you get your food.

Raimie had two shrimp onigiris (rice balls). Here in the photo, he was on his way to eat his second onigiri.

Udon for Zaini. The portion was HUGE! He had two different sets on our two visits. The second one was the cheaper one with the voucher we got and there was free carbonated drinks thrown in too.

Food was good and the price was better at this food court but having to share eating space with smokers wasn't exactly a nice experience. There was a section for smokers and one for non-smokers, but you'll inevitably go in the smoker's section to make your way to order your food. Needless to say, although we enjoyed our food, we didn't linger here.

Warming Up To More Korean Dishes

I'm starting to love Korean food more and more nowadays. Zaini and Raimie are not total converts yet, but I'm optimistic that Raimie will not resist so much when I wanted to go to eat Korean in future (he resisted becaus ehe equates eating Korean food as going to the very friendly Korean lady stall at Food garden in Gardens Mall. The lady never fails to chat with him and he was kinda shy about it. That and the fact that Korean food is spicier than Japanese food). Zaini on the other hand doesn't mind too much as long as it's not Chinese food. LOL

Didn't stray too far looking to satisfy my Korean cravings though. Ample place at MidValley and Gardens Mall to enjoy Korean food. This time, we head to Ko Hyang at Gardens Mall.

Ko Hyang, located at LG floor at Gardens Mall. It's located beside San Terri Cottage and is opposite Cold Storage. Friendly staff here and efficient too.

 

 A big mug of tea for us and generous amount of banchan.

 

Our dinner; spicy squid with rice and seaweed soup for me, kimchi rice and seaweed soup for Zaini and bibimbap for Raimie. Raimie and I ended up switching rice bowls afterwards because Raimie seemed to be more interested in my rice than his bibimbap.

 

A total clean up of everything. A delicious dinner indeed. Our dinner just a little over RM50.00 which to me is not that bad or expensive considering that we were really full.

I'm not yet familiar with Korean food and taking baby steps in enjoying them. So far, we only went to food court and to Ko Hyang. Perhaps one day we can go to a good Korean restaurant. But, I have to find a Halal Korean outlet first! Any recommendation here in Klang Valley?