Believe or not, what bothers an American most in Singapore, it is not the hot weather or chewing gum ban. It is the unavailability of what it is on the menu. If you go to a shop or resturaunt, often, you order something on the menu, but the staff will tell you the thing that you want to order is not available or sold out.
So once, one of my American friends told me what’s the point to put it on the menu to disappoint your customers .
If you have been to Tokyo for a while, you must have heard of the fashion street near Shibuya called Daikanyama, where you can find a spate of indie fashion designer shops for furniture and clothing. However, little knows there is a hidden traditional Japanese house in this neighbourhood, which was built almost a hundred years ago. The name is called Kyu Asakura House. If you Search it in Google Maps, then you will find that it is just off on a side street next to the crossing of Daikanyama koban-mae. I like its lovely garden especially.
It is definitely a worth visiting after a long and tiring shopping near the Daikanyama station.
A weekend trip to Saigon , September 2016
Ho Chi Minh city does not have subways but it is the home to about 8 million people as of 2016. According to a signage on the street, It seems that Japan is helping it to build its subway, and the famous Japanese department store Takashimaya also has its branch, where you will see lots of Japanese and international food and products.
Once again, I saw another southern east country that is under heavy influence of Japan. No wonder that I stumbled into many Japanese wives of expat(駐在員)
Through a conversation with a local, I heard some interesting anecdote about the men’s mentality towards women’s sexual experiences. For example, many Vietnamese guys prefer to marry a virgin , they will be upset if they discover that the bride is not virgin. So many girls here thrive to keep their virginity.
I didn’t know that Vietnam is one of the biggest coffee bean producers until I hit the famous Bến Thành Market and found myself surrounded by numerous coffee bean stalls. I bought a few Vietnamese coffee beans in the market, and I will try them out with my Mazzer machine in Singapore.
I discovered some new fruit that might be unique to Vietnam. For example, Sapoche smoothie, and Mia Lau tea and a lime smoothie which is very tasty and refreshing!
And for the first time, I learnt how a papaya tree look like in Vietnam
Since, there are currently no subway. The scoot-like motorbikes are like streams on the street , they are ubiquitous, rampant and never stop even in the middle of the night. Check out this video below:
Vietnamese cuisine is amazing. I fell in love with it . The food is affordable, healthy and tasty, compared to the food in Singapore anyway. Meals usually include fresh herbs and veggies. Apart from the famous Vietnamese phô , which can be found in other countries. I tried many dishes that I have never seen in my life before
This is a desert. It may look not as sophisticated and pretty as western desert, but it is simple, primitive but yummy and healthy. It suits my Asian tongue well.
Having been in Singapore for almost 8 months, partaking spicy, oily or salty food (of course, tasty) here, I ,sometimes, miss the food in Japan. Sadly, I could not find any affordable yet delicious authentic Japanese food with fresh ingredients in Singapore , like the picture showed below. Anyone knows good place?
每逢佳节倍思亲。王菲的《但愿人长久》是我的最爱。
感谢宋朝的苏轼写下了这首千古传唱的词。以下是日文翻译
明月幾時有 明月幾時よりか有る
把酒問青天 酒を把って青天に問ふ
不知天上宮闕 知らず天上の宮闕
今夕是何年 今夕は是何れの年ぞ
我欲乘風歸去 我風に乘って歸り去らんと欲す
又恐瓊樓玉宇 又恐る瓊樓の玉宇
高處不勝寒 高き處寒さに勝へざらんことを
起舞弄清影 起舞して清影を弄ぶ
何似在人間 何ぞ似たる人間に在るに
轉朱閣 朱閣に轉じ
低綺戸 綺戸に低（た）れ
照無眠 無眠を照らす
不應有恨 應に恨み有るべからざるに
何事長向別時圓 何事ぞ長へに別時に向って圓なる
人有悲歡離合 人に悲歡離合有り
月有陰晴圓缺 月に陰晴圓缺有り
此事古難全 此の事古より全くなり難し
但願人長久 但だ願はくは人長久に
千里共嬋娟 千里 嬋娟を共にせんことを