Asia – Page 3 – A Couple of Tourists

Dining at Restaurant André – Food for the “Memory”

May 27, 2016MargaretNo Comments

Even before we got to Singapore, I was super excited about dining at Restaurant André, which is one of Taiwanese chef André Chiang’s five restaurants. It is lauded as the best restaurant in Singapore and was awarded 2 Michelin stars. Chef André is most well-known for his octo-philosophy approach to his food: unique, pure, texture, memory, salt, south, artisan, and terroir. Each course exemplified one of these eight elements either in its appearance or taste (or both). The dining experience was one of my most memorable (thanks to Tie for this lovely birthday gift).

Hong Kong

What to Eat in Hong Kong

May 15, 2016MargaretNo Comments

As we prepare to return to Hong Kong in a few weeks, we’d like to share a list of our favorite foods from our last trip there. From street food to restaurants, the city has a ton of sumptuous options. Here’s a quick list of the places we dined at during our last two visits!

Japan

Nerding Out at the One Piece Theme Park

April 22, 2016MargaretNo Comments

Because Japan is so densely populated and real-estate is scarce and expensive, especially in Tokyo, many of its “theme parks” are actually indoors. We went to one inside Tokyo Tower during our last trip. If you haven’t noticed by now, Tie and I are huge fans of the anime, One Piece. It’s currently all the rave in Asia, so unsurprisingly, they have their own theme park, even if it’s only two stories tall. But since you’re reading this post, you probably already know what One Piece is. Let’s check out what’s inside!

Japan

An Afternoon in Asakusa

April 18, 2016MargaretNo Comments

Asakusa is a bustling part of Tokyo, popularized by the Kaminarimon Gate that leads to the Senso-ji (oldest temple in Tokyo). Many tourists also go there for shopping at Nakamise Street, a line of shops right past the gate. There, you can find traditional souvenirs such as masks, clogs, and cloth. Running perpendicular to Nakamise Street is Shin Nakamise (or “New” Nakamise), which is a covered arcade of stores. Lots of great snacks such as senbei and taiyaki (I wrote about it here).

Japan

Kaiten Sushi in Tokyo

April 10, 2016MargaretNo Comments

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience in Tokyo, look no further than kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi restaurants. “But we’ve already tried that before,” you say? Not quite the same. In the states, conveyor belt sushi is pretty standard – plates of food spin around and you just pick up whatever you like. Certain Japanese chains, however, take it to a whole other level. It’s efficient, cheap, and delicious for what you pay. We tried two of the more popular chains: Kura Sushi and Uobei. Almost every dish is only ¥100. Because of that, these restaurants are also very popular with locals and there are long queues during dinnertime. The wait is definitely worth it, though.

Macau

Winging It in Macau Pt. 2

March 30, 2016MargaretNo Comments

The next day we took a shuttle from our hotel to Old Macau. The casinos here certainly feel like they are from another era. The architecture was old-fashioned and the chips and tiles were much bigger (again, wish I could’ve taken some pictures). There were table games and digital games, but overall the casinos were not as grand as the one we stayed at. A lot more Chinese people than westerners.

Macau

Winging It in Macau Pt. 1

March 30, 2016MargaretNo Comments

Usually before a trip, Tie and I put together a spreadsheet of all the places we’d like to visit while we’re there. But since we were only going to Macau for two days and Tie has previously been there, we decided to just wing it this time around. Even so, we ended up covering a lot of ground! My perception of Macau prior to visiting was it probably is similar to Las Vegas, full of casinos and not much else to do. Funny enough, I’ve never been to Vegas either. So it was a pleasant surprise when I was proven wrong.

Hong Kong

The Big, Big Buddha

March 21, 2016MargaretNo Comments

Almost everyone who’s visiting Hong Kong for the first time visits the Big Buddha on Lantau Island. It is literally a giant Buddha sitting atop a hill. You can take the train to the island – it’s a little past Disneyland. That’s just the beginning of your journey. From there comes the frustrating part – waiting in line for the Ngong Ping cable car up the mountain. As always, the earlier you go the better. Of course, you can also hike up there…but that’s crazy. It’ll take you hours. Make sure you purchased tickets online beforehand or you’ll end up queueing even longer. We got the crystal cabin, which is only slightly more expensive than standard but the wait was much shorter. Warning: there will rude people who will try to cut you in line. Your choice to either give them the stank eye or a piece of your mind.

Japan

Hiking Up Mount Takao

March 18, 2016MargaretNo Comments

In Tokyo, we typically do a lot of walking. The metro stations are massive so it’s not like you can just go underground and quickly hop on a train. And yet, we decided adding hiking to our itinerary would be a good idea for our legs. No regrets, though! Mount Takao was only a 50 minute train ride away from Shinjuku Station on the JR Chuo Line. It’s one of the most popular treks in the world, so expect to see a ton of people there, especially around foliage season. Get an early head start so you give yourself plenty of time to really enjoy the hike.

Japan

Spring in Kyoto

March 17, 2016MargaretNo Comments

When we went to Kyoto, it was during cherry blossom season so we were hoping to get some beautiful sakura in our photos. But as we quickly learned, even though it was in full bloom in Tokyo, that was not necessarily the case in Kyoto. It’s pretty tough to plan a trip right around that season because the sakura are only really up for about two weeks before the leaves come out and they all drop to the ground. So whenever I see them, I always try to get them in the frame!