Flores island hopping

Hi all!

Island hopping in Labuan Bajo area in Flores was the main reason for the short escape from Singapore. I specifically chose this tour operator (even though it was slightly pricier) for its boat safety and the service quality. And I think every penny was worth it. We started the day pretty early (about 5 am) and headed to Padar island for a short hike to get this beautiful view. I also started to understand why the tour combined this activity with snorkelling. It was HOT! The heat and the sun was super harsh and a mix of dry and humid, totally different from Singapore.

Seriously, just look at how pretty this place is.

After that, it was back to the boat to chase some manta rays at the manta point. Even though I didn’t get into the water because I can’t swim, it was a funny experience witnessing my boat mates chasing the manta cluelessly. Here’s them floating about after failing to see the manta the first time around. Eventually, a rope was thrown to them in the waters and they had to hold on to it as we went in search for the manta. I did see the manta’s head poking from the sea waters, which was really clear.

After everyone saw the manta rays, we headed to the pink beach. This was the main reason I was glad to choose this operator. They brought us to the longest pink beach in the area that had nobody because it was off the main boat route. Here, you can do some slight snorkelling to see baby turtles and sharks (if you’re lucky). But it’s a pretty safe zone for snorkelling. I also saw a squad of squid from the bridge (below) as we were walking over to the beach. The water is actually that clear and pretty (there’s no editing done to this picture)!

The pink from the beach comes from the red corals that has eroded over time due to the waves. The sand here is actually some of the finest and softest sand I’ve felt. You literally sink slightly as you take each step forward. But it’s really fun. It was here I also started to understand why people enjoy beach holidays. Something I usually scorn. This location was sooo pretty I felt slightly sad to leave.

After the pink beach, we headed over to Komodo island. It was noon by the time we arrived, so we did a mild hike, except for a short portion that was slightly tougher because it was very sandy and my shoes didn’t have a good grip on the steep slope. I also experienced my first sun burnt here. That’s how harsh the sun was, considering I don’t burn even without sun screen and being out in the sun for a long time. 

The view from the top of the island, which is where the komodos usually hang in the morning when it is cooler.

There’s this small white patch on the ground in the picture below, and that’s where the komodo have mark its sun bathing spot.

Our one and only komodo that we saw. Male, 26 years old, he was resting next to their water basin. He was just lying there and everyone was pretty calm. But when he suddenly stood to walk to a shadier spot, everyone literally scampered away, yet trying to capture its movement at the same time.

After lunch at komodo island, it was down to Taka Makassar, a crescent beach located in the middle of the sea. At first everyone had to swim a good distance to reach the beach. But after the boat got closer slowly, me and my friend who were the only one left on board could actually walk over. But it was super crowded, so I didn’t head over. Plus I’m really short, so the water would probably reach up to my neck (based on the water level against my taller friend that eventually went in for a dip).

Corals from the boat.

The crescent beach from afar.

The last place for this tour was Kanawa island, a private island open to the public for free. The sand on the beach here was not as nice as the pink beach (more pebble-like), but the waters was still pretty clear. I even saw 2 starfish that was found in the shallower waters.

This marks the end of my first short beach getaway. It was fun and relaxing. Though getting on and off the boat is slightly intense because of how slippery and high the dock is to the boat. So the locals always had to pull us up, in particular when we arrived back onto Labuan Bajo, just in time for the sunset. Till the next post, bye!

Kyoto II

Hi all!

I started out the day with a stroll along the Philosopher’s path towards Ginkakuji. The canal was gorgeous as it was covered with the fallen sakura flowers, making it a beautiful pink.

Ginkakuji or the silver pavilion (500 yen/adult) is a zen temple modelled after Kinkakuji (the golden pavilion). Unlike the ostentatious golden facade of its counterpart, the silver pavilion looks pretty underwhelming, almost like any other pagoda. But the beautiful dry sand garden and moss garden in the compound makes up for it. They create a subtle beauty from within which makes this place a more pleasant visit than Kinkakuji.

A stroll along the beautiful river banks that day as I walked over for some traditional Japanese deserts.

Strangely enough, I had a hard time finding a place that sold amaze and warabi mochi (bracken root starch). So when I stumbled upon this place in my googling search, I knew I had to made my way down. The amazake and warabi mochi set costs 900 yen and it was worth every penny. Warabi mochi has a more jelly/agar like texture as compared to the usual stickiness of a mochi. It was delicious when paired with kinako (soybean) powder and a cup of amazake that warms the soul. It took a bit of getting use to truly appreciate and enjoy the taste of amazake. But once it happened, I was hooked onto it. It became my to-go drink in Japan whenever I saw it.

Bunnosuke Jaya Kyoto. Address: 373, Yasakakamimachi, Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 605-0827

Of course after desert was lunch. Kaneyo pop up frequently on my radar when searching for places to eat in Kyoto. It’s famous for it’s unagi rice bowl amongst locals and tourists alike. Slightly on the pricy side, a small bowl of unagi rice bowl costs 2500 yen. But you get a hot bowl of rice covered with the unagi sauce that makes it so fragrant. The unagi itself is so tender and there’s this slight charred charcoal flavour from it that tops the cake. I’ve honestly yet to have unagi in back home because I do not want to tarnish my memory of this meal. It was that good.

Kaneyo. Address: 456 Matsugaemachi Rokkakucho Nakagyo ku, Kyoto 604-8212

Because it was the sakura season, I was in time to catch the Miyako Odori  performance. It’s a time in the year where all the geishas and maikos gather to put up a performance for a month. This is an affordable way to witness them in their full glory while soaking in some cultural goodness in you. I really appreciated the dedication that they have to their craft. No photography was allowed during the tea ceremony and performance event, which was unfortunate.

I’m also ashamed enough to say that I nodded off mid-way through the performance, waking up just for the final scene. Mainly because I was really tired from all the travelling and the constant darkening of lights in the performance hall and comfortable seats was making a trip to dreamland a rather unavoidable one. But I still enjoyed the show greatly and would highly recommend it for anyone if the opportunity arose.

Because I was so sleepy, I headed to travelling coffee, another local cafe for a cup of hot americano (300 yen) to perk me up.

Ended the day with a leisurely stroll back to the hotel before heading out to Ippudo, located just round the corner of my place, for some ramen. The ramen here (1020 yen) was infinitely better than Ichiran’s. If you only have time for one, go to Ippudo. You definitely won’t regret it. Till the next post, bye!

Arashiyama

Hi all!

I took a day trip out from Kyoto to Arashiyama, arriving at the JR station even before the JR ticket person started their shift. So there was a group of us tourists with JR tickets “pushing” our way through the ticket barriers. Anyway, I headed straight for the bamboo forest before the crowd started coming in because I’ve seen and heard how bad it can be.

The perks of arriving early, you get the area mostly to yourself, so you can get crowd free shots like those below. But the forest itself is actually quite underwhelming for all the hype that surrounds it, because it is really small – like a short path littered with bamboos growing alongside. As I came to the end of the forest, there was a group of people with heavy duty tripods and camera just waiting for me to make my way out so a instagrammer/blogger/youtuber(?) can get her insta-worthy shot. Kind of awkward/weird with everyone just standing around waiting for you to get out of the way (i.e. out of the forest).

Arrived so early that I could see the sun rising above the fields in the neighbourhood.

I just find the exterior of Japanese houses to be so beautiful and calming.

Along the quiet streets of the Toriimoto preserved street. That was a mouthful.

The moss garden but it was not yet opened.

Another classic Japanese scene – the train tracks.

Just loitering about waiting for the monkey park to open, I seriously arrived waaaay to early for this place thinking I would need to spend a good amount of time here. Had to google for nearby places to go after the park because I was not too keen in visiting any of the other temples in the area.

Togetsukyo bridge – it was freezing, trying to cross the bridge in the morning with the strong winds blowing over the cold “dam” water. Crossed back over to the other side to get a cup of coffee from the ever famous shop “% arabica” as it opened for the day.

There was already a queue forming when I arrived.

I had a super embarrassing moment here. Because I ordered a cup of hot americano, we had to put the lid on ourselves. And my sleep deprived mind failed to process the curved edge of the glass table when I placed my cup down to cover it with the lid and it spilt all over the place. There was this frantic moment of me trying to clean the mess up and asking the staff for a cloth. The shop was only managed by the 2 guys below – 1 the barista, the other the cashier. They both stopped their work to help me clean it up and even ask if I needed access to a washroom to remove the coffee from my clothes/jacket.

Luckily I was in all black and the splatter was minor. Also, my jacket was waterproof so it was easy enough to get the stains wiped off. Honestly, all I wanted to do was get out of the shop. So embarrassing. But the staff was really nice about it, they didn’t even showed any annoyance and instead was concerned on my behalf. So I was really appreciative of this.

Downed the remainder of my coffee after this shot and headed to the monkey park after. If there’s one place you have to visit in Arashiyama, I would highly recommend the monkey park (550 yen/adult). It’s fun and interesting – a really good break from all the temple visiting.

The playground constructed for the monkeys. Although it seems they tend to gather and had around at the top in the early morning.

The classic food grabbing mode (on standby) by these greedy little creatures. I also bought a packet of apples to feed them (50 yen) from the store inside this enclosure for humans.

The boss seat.

The horny monkey on the right that keeps trying to hump every other monkey it can get its hands on before finally succeeding. It was a great show of its perseverance, witnessed by many.

A great view of the town from the park. I headed straight to Kobe (next post) after spending a good amount of time here so till then, bye!