July 2020

It has been 6 month since I last went home to Penang. And it doesn't look like I'll be able to go back anytime soon. I need to clear almost 9 days of leave by end of this year, and I was so looking forward to getting my place up and ready by next year Chinese New Year too. But by the look of things now, it seems that I might miss my target by maybe half a year? Anyway, happy July 2020.

With nowhere else much to go, I did spend more time on Netflix, completing watching the 6 part Ju-On in one seating and loving it. I love the book too. So it was quite an achievement for me to watch the series, losing 2 nights of sleep along the way. Lol. But other than there, here are my top 3 highlights of July 2020. 

These little bite size here are what is known as Pao De Queijo, or cheese buns. I love eating these when I was in Brazil as they search it in the hotel for breakfast. It's supposed to be fattening, but I eat at least two daily. I thought I'll never get to eat them again after I quit my previous job. But just before I left the company in Jurong, I saw a pack of the below mixed at Isetan. So of course I bought it. 

Due to cooking at home so much during the Circuit Break, I had a pack of left over parmesan cheese in the fridge, which was perfect to be thrown together with this pre-mixed pack to make these little delightful snacks!

Although I can roughly made out the instruction at the back of the pack, I still used Google Translator to make sure I got it right. After all, I only get one go at this! Lucky for me, it was a success and super easy to make. I made enough to had them for breakfast, and also as little carbo snacks with my grilled steak dinner. Sadly, I can't find it any more. 

The other highlight was just recently a few days back, when I treated my weird friend to a belated birthday meal. We went to a Izakaya at Robertson Quey for lunch cause I wanted to eat yakitori. Since I was treating, we just ordered anything we wanted. The yakitori was probably the best I had in Singapore, although still no where near those I had in Sapporo. The beef tongue was probably my favourite as it was so flavourful.

The other dish which I was surprised to enjoy and finished all was these grilled tao-pok skin, and you were supposed to filled it with natty, tuna and spring onions and wasabi. Surprisingly, the natty was really nutty with a hint of bitter. I was surprised I managed to finish it all and even managed to enjoy it. Don't mind trying again next time. Actually I'm thinking if I would dare to buy natto and eat them at home? 

The 3rd highlight was a profit I made in these economy bad times. I sold off one of my counter when it hit it's benchmark price, and made a nice 4 digit profit, contributing to my annual passive income goal. It's already end of July, and I've only achieved maybe 40% of my passive income goal? To be honest I did double my target goal by a 100% as compared to last year. Lol. So in a way, I would probably exceed my previous year's achievement, even when the economy is going down the ditch. And since I splurged on toiletries last month, this month, apart of spending almost 200SGD on Japanese meal that one day, I also splurged on some Muji food products. These were on my to-do list anyway, and I got these on the day a friend of my treated me to lunch. So in a way, these were my lunch money. Of the 4 items, I've eaten three already, with only the rice kit left in my kitchen. 

I think I should make it a goal to splurge once a month. At least my monthly post would be much more interesting! Until then.

Kyoto Sept 2019 : Postcard Spot from Kiyomizudera

This is my last post on Kiyomizudera. Unfortunate in a way for me, the grand platform of the temple was under renovation while I was there. So above was the scene of the great platform with all the scaffolding. But the platform was still open and you can see lots of people looking out from it and taking in the view. This shot was taken at the other side of the temple ground. 

This is also another iconic view if it was not for all those scaffolding. I think the legend has it that if you jump from the platform and survive the fall or something, you can overcome any challenges in your life or something. But who is so mad to jump from such a height for???

Some of the beautiful scenic shots from here showing the city of Kyoto below. That is Kyoto tower. I stayed at an inn around there, and to think I walked from there to this spot on foot! That is quite a far walk right? And some part of it was up hill too cause I was now on a higher ground looking down. And just to close the loose ends, yes, I also walked back all the way! 

Here are some of my favourite shots, with the red pagoda and Kyoto just behind it. Iconic shots. 

Here is a more wide angle shot. I just love the plants in front framing the photo, and the mountains at the background. Everything just seems to fit together to frame this photo.

Even a shot from far away looking into Kyoto city looks stunning. And just a side note: Kyoto Tower area is also known for suicide. I found this out recently when I was reading up on haunted places in Japan. Kyoto Tower areas are known as Kyoto Jumper due to the high incident of suicide from high places around that area. That's what you get when you watch too much horror Japan series and start doing research online. Lol. And to think the next place I visit next is a Maosoleum!

Kyoto Sept 2019 : Kiyomizudera Small Fox Shrine

Walking down from the waterhole, it leads you to winding green path down and down to the exit. After seeing the main attraction, most people hurry down to exit and get on with the other Kyoto sites which I am sure they have filled up their touristy program with. Me? I am in no hurry to go anywhere till the late afternoon. So when I saw a side path that leads so what looks like minor shrines, off I would go to follow the trail! I am used to wondering in the woods of Japan and discovering beautiful shrines that feels like only you know off. It's a fun thing to do. And it makes the journey your personal own!

This one was a fox shrine. And for some reason, nobody goes in to pay a visit. But the ground was well maintained in the sense that it was well swept and clean. Nothing funny or eerie about the feel, so my sense tells me that it was ok to proceed on.

Inside the main ground was a terracotta style carving of a fox deity. Again, the round all over was well kept. And it was just beautiful, peaceful here. 

Wondering around the area, at the back I found more little shrine. The doors are closed as the deity are probably sleeping. But the beautiful fox porcelain guarding the shrine was well worth the extra effort to walk behind the ground. The figurines are so elegantly done. 

On the ground at the back, there were also these stone marking. I don't think they are tombs, but I could be wrong. But again, well kept, and felt peaceful about this place. Everything just look respectful about this place. And it was a very nice feeling to be surrounded by all these :)  I'm glad I wander off the beaten path for this. How many people actually saw this on their trip to Kiyomizudera? Always take time to explore when you are travelling. 

Kyoto Sept 2019: The Three Waterfall

After walking past all the great hall and shrines, you will slowly come to a park like places and hear streams of running water. That is when you know you are near the main sites of Kiyomizudera, which means the three water place. Lines of traditional cafe can be found for you to rest in if you are tired from all the walking. I love the cafe layout, and the beautiful red umbrella. 

The place is also decorate with cute little figurine for some of the care like this one. It's just fun and whimsical. I didn't stop in any. I would have love too if I was with my husband. Perhaps to have a beer or some dessert and drinks. But I bet they would be overpriced!

Above are the care over looking the stream itself. You have to take off your shoes before entering to sit on the wooden platform. Again, these are some of the things I love about this place. It is really down to earth. Everything is made of paper or wood. There is a very calming feeling to it on, sitting here resting while looking over the water.

And then you reach the holy grail when you see tonnes of people just queueing, and those three water lines falling from the roof is what everyone is queueing for. To get a drink from one (only one!) of those precious holy water. 

I spend a long time just watching people queueing and drinking the water. I was thinking to just watch and skip the experience myself since it was such a touristy thing to do. But since I've already paid for it, and it was unlikely that I will ever be back here again, I thought what the heck! It's not like anyone know me here anyway. 

So I queued behind a line of senior citizens who happens to be on a group trip here. I followed and watch the protocol on what they would do. There are tin long scope for you to use. So you just pick one up when it's your turn, and select which line of water you want to drink from. I guess each one means a different thing. Most people just take whichever spot is available. You collect some water, take a drink of it, and wash your hands and put the scope back. If anything, it was fun and refreshing partaking in this experience. Having done so, off I went to explore more!

I thought that was the end of the temple, but these little jizo statues seems to lead me to more shrines that most people might not even be bothered to take a look. Stay tune, as I share one post of a nice tiny shrine also found in the temple ground.

Kyoto Sept 2019 : Fun Shrines Inside Kiyomizudera

Continuing on my post on Kyoto, I have just entered the World Heritage Site of Kiyomizudera temple, and it is a large ground inside to cover without even first setting eyes on the famous 3 waterfall that this place is famous for. And for some reason, after passing through the great halls, there seems to be a small plot of higher ground where all the youthful shrines are located. 

The entrance to this place is via a beautifully decorated stone steps up. I was pretty sure I was there in the early morning, but somehow the photo above looks like it was taken at sunset, where the lights reflecting from the wooden signs looking like lanterns instead of wood planks. 

Here is where it feels like anything goes. There are all sorts of deity to pray to, and it seems like a popular place for the more youthful crowds of teenager if anything. So let me explain below on why this is so.

So there is a conner call the "Love Stone". And there are signs to explain to you in case you are wondering what this is. If you can't read, its ok. There are guards around to help explain it to you, and they did so to some teenage girl on how to use the "Love Stone".

So there are two love stones. And you are supposed to walk from one to the other in a straight line with your eyes close. No peeping! You friend can guide you along if you want. And if you can touch the stone at the other end, then apparently your true love will come true or something like that. As you can imagine, this was very popular with the young girls! And it's fun to watch too with lots of giggling and laughter. 

If testing your blindfold sense are not your thing, there are other tonnes of tiny shrines everywhere for you to pray to and make your wishes known to the gods. There were many for studying and passing exams for the school going kids and youth too. 

There was also one alley full of rabbit figurines. Bronze one as shown above looks like something out of Alice in Wonderland. And if you follow him, it leads to more shrines with rabbits in them. 

I don't know if this may look scary to some, but a giant furry rabbit with red eyes anyone?

I spend more time than I thought here. Just watching all the Japanese kids going around excited here was one of the most fun things to do. But I will this post with a nice wooden torii gate I found hung at an ancient tree. It is as if the spirits can just walk into the tree and live there. It was obviously a sacred tree by the rope tied around it. And these are the things I love most about Japan. That spiritual feel of everything of nature.