AKIHABARA: THE ELECTRIC CITY

[DAY 3] 4th June 2014 ~ I went to visit Akihabara, the electric city of Japan. According to its official website, this is the largest place on planet earth where you can find all kinds of electric appliances and devices. I am not into all these gadgets or game consoles so I was there just to see what it had to offer. I guess the place would look spectacular when it is lighted up at night.

NEXT: VISITING YOKOHAMA

WHEN IN JAPAN, DO LIKE THE JAPANESE DO - PART 2

[DAY 3] 4th June 2014 ~ My second eating out experience in Tokyo happened in a sushi restaurant somewhere near Tamasakai Station. I was greeted by two of Miss Dyana's friends, Ija and Muna, who are also currently studying at Tokyo Metropolitan University.

I am not a sushi fan actually. I had eaten sushi once, and that was given by a student who bought it from a supermarket and it was not something that I really fancied. So this was my first time eating in a real sushi restaurant, I had to do this since I was already in Japan. Of course, Miss Dyana did the ordering and I forewarned her not to order too much in fear of me not being able to finish the food.

So I had these 3 plates of sushi which consisted of fish, crab and eel. I had also never eaten the meat of an eel before but there would always be "my first time" moment. I was sure these girls would not choose something that tasted horrible for me so it was definitely not an episode from "Fear Factor". And I must say the sushi was surprisingly delicious, especially the eel. It tasted like fried catfish: crispy outside, juicy inside.

Thanks a lot for the sushi session and I was happy to get to know fellow Malaysians in Tokyo.  

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3 DAYS IN MELAKA - WORKING, NOT HOLIDAYING

23 - 25th June 2014 ~ I was in Melaka for three days, not for a holiday though. I had to attend a meeting similar to the ones that I used to attend annually. Nevertheless I was neither happy nor excited as majority of the people attending the meeting were strangers - not the same old faces I got to see every year before this. To make matter worse, my partner in crime had to attend in another session which started after I had left the hotel. *sad*

view from the hotel room

Lucky enough, my old friend from college, Puan Hanita Kassim, was there and we managed to meet another ex-coursemate who is residing in Melaka, Puan Mariati Salleh, on Tuesday evening at Mahkota Parade. 

I am now expecting to do extra work. I thought I did not have to do this kind of thing anymore but I was wrong. *sigh*

SPOT THE ERROR - TOKYO 1

I must say I was disappointed because I could not find many materials for my "Spot The Error" entry from Tokyo. I wonder whether there are people hired to spot the errors and correct them, or there is an authority for people to submit all kinds of signage, poster or advertisement that needs to be proof-read beforehand. The city was almost grammar error-free when I was there.

Anyway, here is one for you, from the shopping street.

SENSOJI TEMPLE AND THE SHOPPING STREET NEARBY

[DAY 3] 4th June 2014 ~ At the entrance of Sensoji Temple, there were rows of shops selling souvenirs and local food. I think the shopping street was more attractive to tourists than the temple based on the number of people, local and foreigners alike, flocking the shops and the time they spent looking at the goods sold.

There were varieties of items to choose from like key chains, fridge magnets, ceramic, umbrellas and slippers. Anyway, if you are looking for authentic Japanese products to bring back home then you have to check as many of things here were made in China, which was not something new actually. There were also many shops selling local food like the cookies, freshly baked and hot from the oven and the smell was so good. I was not sure whether it was "halal" or not, so I just had to let it go.

For the first time, I could not do any bargaining activities here. The shopkeepers had very limited vocabulary so conversation was really minimal. After doing the business there, they should possess some basic English conversational skills so I just hope that they genuinely did not know much English and not to pretend in order to avoid any bargaining from taking place. (Even people in the market in Beijing and Istanbul could speak a little Malay language.)

Visitors should be ready to spend more here as the prices were quite high. For example, to buy a piece of key chain or fridge magnet, you will have to pay about ¥350 which was about RM11. That could be one reason my luggage from Tokyo weighed only 11 kilogrammes.

Tokyo Skytree from a distance

umbrella shop

At least you could get a lot of things here to take back home to your loved ones which could save your time hunting for souvenirs. I am not sure whether there are other places where people could get souvenirs in Tokyo, or get them at lower prices.

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SENSOJI TEMPLE - THE TEMPLE AS A TOURIST'S ATTRACTION

[DAY 3] 3rd June 2014 ~ Another tourist's hot spot was Sensoji Temple. I could see that just by looking at the volume of pedestrians going to and away from this place which seemed unstoppable. It was a Buddhist Temple, the oldest one in Tokyo, and read more about Sensoji Temple HERE.

There was a praying session in progress inside the main building and visitors were allowed to observe from outside.

NEXT ENTRY: Let's see what else does this place have to offer?

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