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sweepingyong-blog · 7 years ago

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Disneyland for adults — Kappabashi

These days, what excite me is household stuff and lately, I’ve been expanding the kitchenware at home because I believe placing food on nice kitchenware does make the food more appealing, apart from making it more instagrammable.

I am quite embarrassed to say I am not aware of the famous kitchen town in Tokyo which is famously known as Kappabashi until recently.

From what I read online from numerous blogs, apparently the original meaning of Kappabashi (かっぱ橋)was meant to be raincoat (kappa かっぱ), bridge (bashi橋) but the town picked the mythical Japanese folklore creature as a mascot much later.

It is also known as kitchen town or Kappabashi Dougu Gai (かっぱ橋道具街) which loosely translate to Kappabashi tools street. Living up to its name, there are over 170 shops selling various kind of tools related to cooking trade, ranging from very realistic plastic food samples, all sort of bowls, dining utensils, chairs, restaurant signages, huge pans and pots, cash registry, menu and everything you can think of for household or restaurant.

The first shop that I stumbled upon is ‘Sato Food Sample’ — this shop encourage visitors to take photos and upload on social media. I wished I could spend more time here but it could also mean I might end up buying something. This shop reflects the high standard of Japanese products — you can see with your own eyes on how detailed and delicate each of the plastic food samples here.

I got excited when my eyes saw more and more of what each of the shops have to offer — I texted my best friend and told her “this feels like Disneyland to me!,” which is true. Endless shops of authentic Japanese tablewares of all sorts and a wide variety of interesting kitchen tools that I’ve not seen before.

I got here a little late — slightly after 4 p.m. which leaves me only about an hour or so to explore the street, hence I couldn’t really go into every single shops but rely solely on my instinct to see which shop is interesting enough and then along the way, make a mental note of what items I would like to buy and the prices to compare.

I like this shop a lot - it maintained the old school shop look and feel and it is managed by ojisans and obasan.

I think one can spend half a day here if you slowly explore every nook and corner of the shops here. Apart from kitchen tools, there are also shops that sell cooking ingredients — mostly in bulk or big sizes than standard home kitchen size.I also found a few storeys high supermarket that sell everything you need from ingredients, all sorts of food packaging etc (I think it is 6 floors). Found mentaiko salad sauce but good lord, it is 1 litre, too heavy and big for me to buy for home.

Even though I only managed to spent about 1.5 hours here, I had a good time exploring the few shops that I managed to go in. Some of the shops do not allow photograph to be taken, so do check for signages of “No Photos Allowed” before you get into snapping frenzy.

The shops are as far as my eyes can see — whether it is kitchen signages, good fortune statues for businesses like maneki-neko (fortune cat) and tanuki (racoon), knives specialty shops — there is bound to be something you can find here whether for your own home or as a souvenir for family & friends.

Even if you are not a big fan of kitchen tools, I think it is worth to visit Kappabashi to experience what it has to offer — from interesting kitchen tools, to understanding a little bit more of Japanese kitchen and be fascinated by the amount of stuff involved in running a restaurant.

There are several ways of getting here, depending on which direction you come from. I always rely on Google Maps to get around Japan which so far, has been really useful for me. One can access here from Tokyo Skytree or Asakusa which is within walking distance.

Or maybe you can make it as “kappa hunting adventure” here with your friends or kids, because there seemed to be quite a few kappa statues scattered across Kappabashi which come in all shapes, sizes and designs.

#japan #kappabashi #travel #Tokyo #kitchen

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sweepingyong-blog · 8 years ago

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Secret home in Baiao - over 11,000km away

“I believe that many of us have these secret homes—faraway cultures with which we feel a strong affinity, even though we have no official connection with them - Pico Iyer”

The above sentence from Pico Iyer, a columnist that I enjoyed reading his articles from TIME resonates well in me when I read it. Everyone who know me to a certain degree know, Japan is like home to me. I feel home when I am there. And I didn’t thought there would be another place likely I have the same strong affinity.

But in June, I found my secret home that is over 11,000km away. To be slightly more exact, 11,398 km according to Google Map. And this place is Baião.

Baião, is a municipality area in Porto district that is about 174.53 km (source from Wikipedia) and it is about 1.5 hours drive from Porto or you can take the train which is about the same amount of time.

By sheer luck or coincidence, I visited this amazing countryside and fell instantly in love with the lush of green of Douro Valley. Below are pictures of the scenery that greeted me upon arrival in Baião.

One of the vineyards here that you can visit and buy locally produced wine. Douro Valley wines are popular across Portugal.

I had the chance to experience a glimpse of life in Baião when I stayed over at João’s home. It is one of the best moments I have experienced in life. It isn’t extravaganza, in fact, it is simple and it is the simplicity of it that make me fall in love with this beautiful valley.

I was immediately greeted by his family’s vineyard and fruit trees - orange and lemon. I was excited at the sight of the fruit trees, very much like a little girl who saw her Christmas present on Christmas morning.

Why? First, living in a tropical city - there are no such fruit trees and I haven’t seen any of these fruits in my years of traveling abroad. So seeing it for the first time does excite me. Second - the fresh smell of the fruits and the sheer size of it was an eye opening to my senses of sight and smell. João couldn’t understand my excitement as this was nothing extraordinary for him.

This is where he grew up and see everyday. Lucky him, I silently curse him in my heart.

When he told me to pick the fruit, I think my face instantly shined up with excitement. It is my first time, picking orange and lemon straight off from its trees! Any first time experience is something I truly appreciate, I hope I will still feel like this when I am 60 years old because that’s what living is about.

There was a small fish festival on the day I arrived, organised by one of the restaurants nearby so my stomach has its first filled of local food upon arrival. Since Douro Valley have a huge river (the length of the river is 557 miles!), there’s plenty of fishes in it. The food is delicious despite that one of the fish dish have a lot of bones in it - which is pretty common for river fish and it is not my forte to eat fish with many bones. There was a Fado performances and the lady sang a beautiful song although I understand nothing about the expressive or melancholic lyrics which fado music is famously known for.

I almost finished eating the entire bowl of fresh olives to João’s amusement. When we had to leave and there was few more left in the bowl, trust me, when I said I leave with a heavy heart. Le sigh.

I have the chance of living the life of doing nothing for few days. I don’t remember when it is the last time, I am not in a motion of doing something, where my mind isn’t racing thinking of the list of things I need to do, strategising on how I should be talking, dealing with various things in life. The feeling of not doing anything, not thinking forward and just enjoying the present moment - is peaceful and the calmness of my mind is very enjoyable.

I can still remember the eureka moment of realising it - I was helping out with the laundry and was flapping the clothes at the balcony with view of the beautiful lush of green as far as my eyes can see and summer sun shining down on the hot afternoon.

Being a city girl all my life, I am intrigued with country life and enjoys it. Just like how I enjoyed the rare fishing trip with my dad where all I see is the sea for few days.

Meals prepared by João’s mom are simple but nothing short of deliciousness. I observed lunch and dinner’s preparations as much as I can and helped out where I can make myself useful. At times, it felt like I am like a secret spy trying to learn the secret recipes of a great Portuguese meal because I was taking mental notes.

I know no Portuguese language (I don’t think knowing “Olá” or “bom dia” count) and João parents doesn’t speak English. But that didn’t stop us from interacting with each other through body language, make-up signs and most of all with Google Translate. And it is fun (though I hope it didn’t caused much inconvenience to his parents).

João said Portuguese are lovely people. Meeting his parents and sister who are very warm and friendly, it seemed what he said is true.

We had pork steaks for lunch one day. It is by far, the most delicious and juiciest I ever had. Beats the one I ate at CUT by Wolfgang Puck at the Marina Bay Sands.

Bacalhau batatas a murro (codfish with punched potatoes) - a meal that I was very much fascinated when João’s mother was preparing it for lunch. This is my favourite shot.

One afternoon, I decided to be adventurous to cycle around. It was fun at the beginning despite the hot summer sun. I cycled to the train station and went to the nearby ferry dock which offer an amazing view of the river.

At this point, I realised how here I felt much at home, the same feeling I have for Japan. I can’t speak, read or write Japanese but being in Japan, listening to Japanese language, the sight and smell of it, feels very much like home. Side-tracked but I remember onboard flight from London to home, I knew my heart still calls out to Japan although I can see myself living abroad in other countries.

I remember feeling strange that I am comfortable being among a group of Portuguese and listening into their conversation although I understand zero words of it. It is different from in Japan, where I am able to understand the conversation much more now and able to speak a little. It doesn’t annoy me that I don’t understand Portuguese. I’ve never thought of picking up this language but now I do a little bit.

The amazing view from the ferry dock. You can take the ferry to go across.

“Because being here is pure happiness and simple life - away from complexity. This life is good,” that’s what I wrote on my Instagram post and the smile is genuine. I was happy sitting at the dock just listening to the sound of water hitting the dock and blowing soap bubbles. Despite the crazy hot summer sun.

I was almost half dead trying to cycle uphill. This was taken when I was making my 1,234,657 times pitstop. Amazing view and fresh orange to quench my thirst.

Someone forgot to give me a tip of cycling uphill first… UNTIL when I texted him and he said he would usually cycle uphill and then only downhill.

The epic moment captured on my phone by accident, just before I fell down, when I lost my balance due to tiredness and heat.

I spent the rest of my time here, helping out with household chores whenever I can, observing João’s mother in her sewing room and playing fetch with Cristi (who is about 7 months old, I think) and occasionally Xena and Maya (the cats). It was fun except when Cristi keep taking my hand as his chewing bone and it was clear who is the authority figure that Cristi listened to - João’s mother. Only she is able to stop him from doing anything mischievous. With me, he always ignore my commands but then again, he is meant to be born free and wild.

So when I read Pico Iyer’s article on Kinfolk about which place has felt the most immediately like home and his reply instantly make me realised, that is exactly how I feel about Baião.

There is no shopping malls, the nearest neighbours isn’t just one step next door and literally no public transportation apart from the train station and ferry but still it feels like home. Which to many, it may sound strange - how could I possibly feel home at someone’s home, in a place that I’ve never heard of before this, not understanding the language even a fair bit and never even come across my mind to ever visit if I hadn’t met João and decided to visit out of curiosity.

Well, that is the wonder of what traveling could possibly do to you.

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sweepingyong-blog · 8 years ago

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Porto, described in a way you never seen before

Visited Porto in June for the first time, took a close to a thousand photos or more so here are some of it.

A church near the train station

Cafe Majestic - I don’t know how it is inside because looks too expensive to me.

Another church - Porto amazingly have many churches in the city center.

Yet another church - at least this one have a pretty cool graffiti on the exterior wall.

Coolest Mc’Donalds in terms of exterior and interior but the food still the same. Still is fast food.

Lost count of church number what.

Just a white, hairy chicken in Porto

The interior of the famous train station.

Paparazzi shot of João trying to take artsy photo.

Just a bridge.

Just a boy who will jump off the famous bridge if they collected enough 1Euro from locals and tourists alike.

See, another church.

View from the top of the bridge and of Porto surroundings.

Okay, this is just an attempt of a parody description of Porto. It’s an amazing city and this post was just done for fun for an internal joke. Will blog a proper one on this beautiful city soon. I wasn’t joking about the amount of photographs and videos I taken so it will take some time to select for blogging

#porto #visitporto #visitportugal #travel #sweepingtravels #traveling

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