travel

Dumpling central – Din Tai Fun, Taiwan

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

One can’t go to Taiwan and not go to Din Tai Fung – the dumpling mecca of Taiwan. I’ve actually been to Din Tai Fung in China and Japan, but Taiwan is home to the original Din Tai Fung : award-winning dumplings. The lines at all the Din Tai Fung outlets are crazy. I went to the Taipei 101 Tower outlet.

From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung

Be prepared to wait:

From Din Tai Fung

Take a number, they said:

From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung

The dumplings are prepared with surgical precision in the operating theatre:

From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung

I ordered the shorompo (soup dumplings):

From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung

And a wonton soup:

From Din Tai Fung

I was thinking that the dumplings would be overrated, but they REALLY were that good. Even the broth for the soup was just so clean. So pure. So tasty. The perfect meal:

From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung
From Din Tai Fung

But dem shorompo need to be eaten with safety warning. You’ve gotta watch out for when the soup inside the dumpling squirts on your face. I’m sure it’s happened to us all. I have since learnt to pierce the dumpling and let the soup run into the spoon first. Ate at Din Tai Fung. Taiwan done. Next stop airport. Just kidding. Plenty more stuff was seen and eaten in Taiwan.

Taiwan Day trip: Journey through Jiufen

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Whilst in Taiwan, I did a day trip to Jiufen. More like a half day trip given the wet weather conditions. I couldn’t bear to spend any more time walking around in the rain.

My attempt to get a bus there failed so after searching for a relocated bus stop, not finding it, I decided to go by train. Even then, after taking the train, I still had to get a bus.

Here are some pics of trying to get out of the city:

The Taipei 101 Tower:

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

Stairs to the Subway:

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

Arrival at Jiufen:

From Day 2 – Jiufen

Jiufen is basically a village up in the mountains with lots of little narrow alleyways famous for teahouses, food and market stalls.

The little alleyways are crammed with people.

From Day 2 – Jiufen

You should go there with an empty stomach. So many local yummy foods to try. Taiwan is a country of cheap culinary eats.

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

Peanut ice cream rolls:

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

Giant mushrooms:

From Day 2 – Jiufen

Various seafoods:

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

Some ugly looking fruit:

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

A lively bustling place. But too many people for my liking. And the rain made it worse as everyone had umbrellas.

When you get through the maze of alleys to the end lookout point, you’ll be rewarded with picturesque views over the valley below and the ocean beyond.

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

I ate lunch at this really cool wooden cliffside teahouse:

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

I loved eating my way through Taiwan – home to tea and dumplings – a few of my favourite things.

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

A shame it wasn’t a clear sunny day.

From Day 2 – Jiufen

But I do love me some yum cha:
The food was divine. I really think I should move to Taiwan.

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

A really cool teahouse:

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

A sea of umbrellas:

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

A maze of stairs and alleyways:

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

And you can’t go to Taiwan and not escape the stinky tofu!

From Day 2 – Jiufen

The stuff really reeks. It’s quite nasty. Luckily, it tastes better than it smells.

From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen
From Day 2 – Jiufen

Jiufen can be done as an easy half day trip from Taipei. I probably could have spent a day there had the weather been nicer. Ended up going back to Taipei in the afternoon and did some sightseeing in the main city instead.

From Day 2 – Jiufen

Taking flight

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Lots of blog posts to catch up on. It’s all a bit overwhelming. Way too many photos to sort through, I don’t even know where to start. Really slacked off on the blogging last year. Will make an effort to blog more this year. Still have stuff from last year that I need to get on here as well.

Christmas week was spent in Taiwan.
I’ll start off with some in-flight entertainment of clouds.

From Flight to Taiwan
From Flight to Taiwan
From Flight to Taiwan
From Flight to Taiwan
From Flight to Taiwan
From Flight to Taiwan
From Flight to Taiwan
From Flight to Taiwan
From Flight to Taiwan
From Flight to Taiwan

Dubai: Poolside by the seaside

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Just came back from a 2-week holiday over Christmas and New Years. Spent a week in Taiwan and a week in Dubai.
Last day in Dubai was spent relaxing. Poolside by the seaside – coz that’s how I roll in 2015.

From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai

Dubai city skyline:

From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai

Lazing by the pool:

From Last day Dubai

Enjoying the view:

From Last day Dubai

With cocktail in hand:

From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai
From Last day Dubai

Not a bad way to start off the year.
But it was soooo hard to go back to work today!

Aokigahara Hiking

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Autumn always feels so short. Never enough time to get more hikes in to see the autumn leaves.

Was lucky and scored a perfect autumn day – clear skies, dry and views of Mount Fuji.

Got to finally see the Aokigahara woodlands, also known as the Sea of Trees (Jukai), so called, because when viewed from the sky, it looks like a sea of trees. Also, incidentally known as the suicide forest. Unfortunately, it is the site where many Japanese people go and never come back. The government has tried to prevent as many suicides as possible from happening there. And upon arriving there, there were signs and surveillance cameras warning those who enter to reconsider their options. The woodlands were formed by the trees that grew on the lava flow from volcanic eruptions.

Despite it’s grim history, the woodlands actually features a beautiful easy walking trail to some great lookout points.

The day requires an early start as it takes about 3 hours from Tokyo to get to Kawaguchiko station.

Riding the Fuji kyuko train:

From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking

Got to see Mount Fuji along the train trip.

From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking

From Kawaguchiko station, you’ll need to take a 45min bus trip over towards Lake Saiko – which is a crazy name for a lake, am I right? (you get it don’t you?).

At the starting point from the Fuketsu lava caves, there’s a surveillance camera as you enter the woodlands. They basically keep an eye out for suspicious entering the trail (ie someone wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase).

You’ll also come across this sign, very early into the trail:

From Aokigahara hiking

Translation:
Your life is a precious gift from your parents. Please think of about your parents, sibings and children. You are not alone. Talk to someone.

And the phone number of the suicide prevention team of the local Fuji district police dept. phone name is given.

The woodlands is a sea of twisted trees and roots around the base of the Mount Fuji area and five lakes district. Surprisingly very green.

From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking

There is a clearly marked trail which you should stick to. Wandering off the path is tantamount to getting lost. Those who go to end their life there do so by getting lost in the forest and then committing suicide by hanging.

From Aokigahara hiking

Along the route, is an ice cave which is pretty lame. And yes, entry is going to cost you.

From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking

The highlight of the trail was going out to Sankodai lookout point (which means View of 3 Lakes). A view of Lake Saiko, Lake Motoso and LakeShojiko and also Mount Fuji. Simply stunning.

From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking

And the autumn leaves were in their prime.

From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking

A most interesting looking plant specimen:

From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking

Lake Saiko:

From Aokigahara hiking

The plains below:

From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking

There’s also a bat cave:

From Aokigahara hiking

Although me thinks they don’t actually have any bats there. They just tell you that “they’re sleeping”. “Sleeping”, my left foot. They are making a racket, charging 300yen entry for bats that aren’t even there.

Inside the bat cave:

From Aokigahara hiking

Be warned, the tunnels are insanely low. Not for the old folks or those with bad backs and knees.

From Aokigahara hiking

A really awesome hike. Well, not so much a hike as a nice trail walk with a few hills. Various lookout points with stunning views and various caves along the way. Highly recommend going in Autumn.

From Aokigahara hiking

Doable as a day trip, provided you make an early start and aim to get to Kawaguchiko station at about 9am. And buses only run about one an hour from the station to Lake Saiko area. Quite a fascinating area. I will admit I was super curious about visiting this forest. Had heard it was a little bit scary given its reputation. Definitely worth visiting. There are plenty of attractions at Lake Kawaguchi. Here’s a post where I was there 3 years ago.

From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking
From Aokigahara hiking

Saga international hot air balloon festival: highlights

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So many photos taken. Too little hard drive space to put all my photos onto.

Here are some highlights from the Saga International Hot Air Balloon festival. Went all the way down to Kyushu for it over the long weekend. Weather was temperamental but managed to see two days of lift off. Festival runs for about 5 or 6 days and I went down for 3 days. But a lot of events were cancelled because of unfavourable weather conditions.

This is what I was able to capture. Also took video footage so may get around to putting up a video sometime in the next decade.

From Hot air balloon festival highlights
From Hot air balloon festival highlights
From Hot air balloon festival highlights
From Hot air balloon festival highlights
From Hot air balloon festival highlights
From Hot air balloon festival highlights
From Hot air balloon festival highlights
From Hot air balloon festival highlights
From Hot air balloon festival highlights
From Hot air balloon festival highlights

Nokonoshima Island highlights

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More photographic treats.
From Fukuoka city, just a 10minute ferry ride is a small island called Nokonoshima. There’s a big island park there which has an impressive garden park filled with an assortment of seasonal flowers and great ocean views.

Here are a few highlights.

From Nokonoshima highlights
From Nokonoshima highlights
From Nokonoshima highlights
From Nokonoshima highlights
From Nokonoshima highlights

Michelin star dining: Alain Ducasse, London

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Have a throwback Tuesday post for you.
Unforgiveably overdue.

Rewind 2 years back when I did the Trans-Siberian and ended up in London to visit my best friend.
A whirlwind 3-4 day stay in London which consisted of mostly just eating and not a lot of sightseeing. Granted, I have been to London before.

Best friend organised an awesome treat, knowing what a foodie I am, had booked lunch for us a the Michelin star restaurant of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. I actually visited The Dorchester two days in a row – once for high tea and again for the lunch.

The Alain Ducasse experience, as it is, is very impressive. Service was impeccable. Most of the waitstaff are actually from France.

Enjoy the photo journey below.

Hotel lobby – this shot (I took) is actually pretty similar to the one that is on their website. It’s incredibly hard to get a frame without anyone walking through it.

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

We are escorted to our table:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Wine is ordered, of course:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Yummy bread is served to whet the appetite:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

This was like mochi bread balls: super light and airy:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

And fancy butters:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

First up, is the cold soup (fret not, it’s meant to be cold). The soup dish (shaped like an egg) is pretty cool:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Fish and potatoes for main. But these ain’t your ordinary fish and chips.

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Besties enjoying good food:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

And this dish was yum:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

We were seated closest to the outdoor window area which gave a lot of natural light rather than indoors where the mood lighting is more dim.

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Food was excellent and service was amazing.
Dessert was plentiful.
We had chosen a dessert each but were also served a petit four arrangement – we didn’t really need to order dessert.

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Little gold nuggets:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Petit macaroons:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

And chocolates:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

I had to try a bite of everything!

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

And these as well. And these were all the desserts we didn’t actually order!

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

I went for the chocolate dessert:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

And Em went the berry dessert:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Teapot servings won my heart, as did the teacup design:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Good times. Hard to believe this was 2 years ago:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

The cutest teacups ever:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

The dining experience was pretty awesome. But the food wasn’t even the best part. The highlight was going backstage into the kitchen of a Michelin star restaurant. I’ve only had 2 Michelin dining experiences – one in Tokyo and this in London, and each time, I’ve been able to meet the chefs. In Tokyo, I got a snapshot with one of the chefs but no entry into the kitchen. Here, we got to go a little tour backstage. Felt like such a kitchen roadie/foodie(?). Was a huge expected delightful bonus.

The pastry corner:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Woohoo, backstage:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

As Em so eloquently phrased it, I was as happy as a pig in mud.
Also got a photo in the kitchen with the head maitre’d but I won’t post that up but everyone was super friendly and obliging.

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Whilst we were seated near the windows, this is what the inside main dining area looks like:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

The cordoned off, private table:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

And to top off this wonderful experience, we got a little goodie bag to take home. I wonder if this is standard at all Michelin restaurants, because I also received a goodie bag at Rabuchon in Tokyo as well.

Some sweets to take home:

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Wonderful experience shared with a great friend.

From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester
From Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester

Am very tempted to dine at his Tokyo restaurant now.

Swimming WITH dolphins in Japan

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Swam with dolphins yesterday. Dolphinitely an amazing experience.

So many wild dolphins. I could have spent the whole day chasing after them.

From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming

Travel notes:
Overnight ferry from Tokyo to Miyakejima. Join the dolphin swimming boat tour. Boat takes you out to Mikurajima where all the dolphins live. Swim with dolphins. Chase dolphins. Repeat several times. The water was deliciously warm at 27 degrees. Air temp was 21 degrees. It got quite cold in and out of the water and on the boat as we chased the dolphins. Actually did this same dolphin trip last year but was unable to swim with the dolphins due to my burn injury. Was so happy to have been able to go into the water this year and actually swim alongside them and get lots of underwater shots this time. Got quite close to them as well.