tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923815975288471512024-03-13T17:26:25.344+08:00Explore Life Lah!Travelling the world to reach the destinations of a universe within.Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.comBlogger224125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-41630967386087304112018-11-11T01:26:00.000+08:002019-04-07T01:28:14.710+08:00Kota Kinabalu (Sabah, East Malaysia) - Gaya Street Sunday Market<b>Date of Exploration:</b> 12 August 2018<br />
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Bustling street markets are always so full of surprises and a chance at speed-reading the local way of life. I'm talking about authentic, unadulterated markets that have sprung up from the people's needs and not something assembled for tourists. <br />
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Gaya Street Sunday Market is one such "natural", community-centric market that provides a fascinating insight into local agriculture, ventures and most delightful of all, the Sabahan culture. I had a brief face-time with this market that is open only on Sundays till 1pm and my general impression is that it is a place for...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sold as pets, not as meat. There's quite a thriving pet trade at the street market.</span></td></tr>
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I think it is refreshing that a street market is so big on pets. Especially in Malaysia where dogs are considered "haram" (impure and contact is prohibited under Islam), it is nice to come across an open market where one can give a dog a home. <br />
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Personally, I find the ample presence of pet stalls a distinguishing feature of this endearing street market and worth pawing through for a visit!<br />
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<b>GETTING TO GAYA STREET SUNDAY MARKET</b><br />
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The well-known weekly market is at Kota Kinabalu's historic core so it is not difficult to get to as most tourist establishments huddle that area. From what I saw, there are quite a number of hotels close by and not too far from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOlliyetwRgBBhNAeqnkORcXH2sPNm8T7kGkhK-VQUp9DPgjSvZdxIPeRSDT8Je2azBn0uUgMmTU8fTb0k_T-qEg0U0dMcTcnEfw51iokeZncOKXqHqr7-7m5DoTdGW8ZE0Cj7MembIQ/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOlliyetwRgBBhNAeqnkORcXH2sPNm8T7kGkhK-VQUp9DPgjSvZdxIPeRSDT8Je2azBn0uUgMmTU8fTb0k_T-qEg0U0dMcTcnEfw51iokeZncOKXqHqr7-7m5DoTdGW8ZE0Cj7MembIQ/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are several access points to Gaya Street Sunday Market but this roundabout with a pair of cranes seem to be the favourite entrance to get it.</span></td></tr>
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Although it is easy to get to Gaya Street Sunday Market by cab, I would recommend walking here if that is possible. The reason being that heavy traffic chokes the main access road to the market, so it could take a longer time to get there in a car than if one had walked.<br />
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We were stuck in our minivan for quite a while before being released from the jam to begin our exploration of this local weekend spectacle!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hold on to Your Eyeballs, There's a Lot to See!</span></b><br />
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How much you enjoy a place really depends on the breadth of your interest. On the surface, Gaya Street Sunday Market comes across as any other local Malaysian <i>pasar malam</i> (night market) brimming with identical stalls hawking knick-knacks, produce and snacks but look closer and something unique quickly comes into focus.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-oLdhI7YA_IPhaUe6N-y_v4DyJo4mnIUnen-s_xRKQ7b0Gg2qEtToQ3XgHHNDjCjqej3b27xJHKqr3u8y9ol4APKKez3WvH8dAkW5TzGtlNKGcx_cU6fQPH9HHyTRPzlThO71yPIcuo/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-oLdhI7YA_IPhaUe6N-y_v4DyJo4mnIUnen-s_xRKQ7b0Gg2qEtToQ3XgHHNDjCjqej3b27xJHKqr3u8y9ol4APKKez3WvH8dAkW5TzGtlNKGcx_cU6fQPH9HHyTRPzlThO71yPIcuo/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For some reason, dreamcatchers, which are of North American origin, are a thing here. Perhaps the Sabahans are dreamers.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVQX2hXSwMixG1DqWvwzjuGNLj909_Q854X2NjMyoYZ0u1JqyelnUUP_md-sR_tWEEwTUKu-JvOKhQNwX23SJmgP8H3nXD8EwUhRKV2G0Ni9KIB4msM0csQGNUT9Dw_luBJ9SQsQwn1Y/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVQX2hXSwMixG1DqWvwzjuGNLj909_Q854X2NjMyoYZ0u1JqyelnUUP_md-sR_tWEEwTUKu-JvOKhQNwX23SJmgP8H3nXD8EwUhRKV2G0Ni9KIB4msM0csQGNUT9Dw_luBJ9SQsQwn1Y/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A lively mix of locals and foreigners filled the corridors created by pointy blue tents.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknETlz7JqXA9NleBTeTGfPze-9e2Y6QRltvfIEhiKfwansK89tudhl_U9Vksksa3FfAq7v25kzNF3NEk9bzJLLBNxfXDCKn671-O5ePq7pV3bGmNqOvQh7CBrZstsxtIocaYXIA3uagw/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknETlz7JqXA9NleBTeTGfPze-9e2Y6QRltvfIEhiKfwansK89tudhl_U9Vksksa3FfAq7v25kzNF3NEk9bzJLLBNxfXDCKn671-O5ePq7pV3bGmNqOvQh7CBrZstsxtIocaYXIA3uagw/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My heart turned to ice-cream on a hot day looking at this one. If only I could bring you home!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ4zGTOzOiFVFVk3uK8iHoPFpRoFYdpxBYTsUtM9uSQuGyT-0r4SpOEgmcGekD2o-OieuWFYI0ZYNnZR0ngJQ0GXPm_hRMvUiVe_whdppA1Ww4PI2nSUwGg9YTDPQQhLfhSEjei_bA48/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ4zGTOzOiFVFVk3uK8iHoPFpRoFYdpxBYTsUtM9uSQuGyT-0r4SpOEgmcGekD2o-OieuWFYI0ZYNnZR0ngJQ0GXPm_hRMvUiVe_whdppA1Ww4PI2nSUwGg9YTDPQQhLfhSEjei_bA48/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My heart turned to wax of a burning candle. It's crying inside for this helpless kitty inside a rusty cage that's rather small for it. If only I could bring you home too.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5g1WGjGORIF3-IvNrkqUFGGqhpTZF_65YZiCDzJ0zDdTn2m0V0nulo8qrKB2b8LdMNthHqKAumlZN7NFfyAey9_zMC7IM_8rbI6rPQo-0Oow9puySokFlzgrA5E0nytcmtUay-R-Ens/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5g1WGjGORIF3-IvNrkqUFGGqhpTZF_65YZiCDzJ0zDdTn2m0V0nulo8qrKB2b8LdMNthHqKAumlZN7NFfyAey9_zMC7IM_8rbI6rPQo-0Oow9puySokFlzgrA5E0nytcmtUay-R-Ens/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The makeshift "stall" where the puppies and caged cat were being sold.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sMlphZykaFvz92VD0M7lM7A4fvceU0mAB9_mJIQd8524JAW_B8o3fmyIUSdGnQhWtYM1ZpCPNL3lmZF8kHUVoQMBOBBOUPp-kAZV3NIWDdIhsmBcvJRBYorBv6t4eqwX1WKgyo66XSI/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sMlphZykaFvz92VD0M7lM7A4fvceU0mAB9_mJIQd8524JAW_B8o3fmyIUSdGnQhWtYM1ZpCPNL3lmZF8kHUVoQMBOBBOUPp-kAZV3NIWDdIhsmBcvJRBYorBv6t4eqwX1WKgyo66XSI/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-21.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Further down the street, a bigger pet seller displays a litter of sleepy puppies. Everyone wants to pet and get a picture of the cute furballs.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO2dBDSkOJE4KG2WMbrPGv648fRnRHFYZa6Qrh-TWlzyO1YzrRn0LVba9OWBl9VeUkS6bBpCGqp0Eugfy7sCkud6hkS5-MWCwasC0uRQyik1-qcy0mtK0T3CMMQLbERJS-RBwDnBZ7yY/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO2dBDSkOJE4KG2WMbrPGv648fRnRHFYZa6Qrh-TWlzyO1YzrRn0LVba9OWBl9VeUkS6bBpCGqp0Eugfy7sCkud6hkS5-MWCwasC0uRQyik1-qcy0mtK0T3CMMQLbERJS-RBwDnBZ7yY/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-22.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wonder if they have been drugged or just sleepy from the morning heat. Now, that's how the upward-facing dog yoga pose should look like. LOL.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdyunfgVOG5hKi9OPN8u0yv9CSBLeZvRZolLiwBeflZvUn8muYeWUBT3ioF-EN3gAhyeRMUwS7_UTyXc8BXh8BsuppyRPZalHGBNpbCSKXwW0f57rU58BSqWZe4FI0IsmsC5lpeSdmL8/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdyunfgVOG5hKi9OPN8u0yv9CSBLeZvRZolLiwBeflZvUn8muYeWUBT3ioF-EN3gAhyeRMUwS7_UTyXc8BXh8BsuppyRPZalHGBNpbCSKXwW0f57rU58BSqWZe4FI0IsmsC5lpeSdmL8/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-25.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gaya Street Sunday Market is a bad place for me to come to. I just want to bring all of them home!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDgJ9zCUYyDKhQMjgBw4pWnosM-Znn52xzfKFuHVTNacNFiuOKmjRaJ4LTrIyXgPHgrfB6I1J67QvHRHXeJU9ssKmfUKjaGHNSURTQ5mGdNKtF1LHC58fBwaF8Pg6Lq1fI0Q6x7O1xL4/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDgJ9zCUYyDKhQMjgBw4pWnosM-Znn52xzfKFuHVTNacNFiuOKmjRaJ4LTrIyXgPHgrfB6I1J67QvHRHXeJU9ssKmfUKjaGHNSURTQ5mGdNKtF1LHC58fBwaF8Pg6Lq1fI0Q6x7O1xL4/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-23.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Took quite some determination to pluck myself away from the furry ones and scale up on the aquatic pets on sale. Such a variety of watery species!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCRw-PeMjx_ARzEhRM3rGX4uA_WZlRZ0gRVzHUf3M6qdpq3_qWgIB8Eup3TKKyi2ThV6hyphenhyphenH07As5nLmHND-TTMT3UsaSuVhDALsGLYzpYf3CEZ50Am06Y8M43rlz3j-_3LLk6sfgWjy8/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCRw-PeMjx_ARzEhRM3rGX4uA_WZlRZ0gRVzHUf3M6qdpq3_qWgIB8Eup3TKKyi2ThV6hyphenhyphenH07As5nLmHND-TTMT3UsaSuVhDALsGLYzpYf3CEZ50Am06Y8M43rlz3j-_3LLk6sfgWjy8/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-24.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whenever I see frogs in tanks, the next I see them is in a claypot. With ginger and spring onions. But these big-eyed beauties made me appreciate what amazing creations they are. Not just as food. Same with the lobster. The legs are so thin and disproportionate to the body! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaYc5-RKOK3G3qWrcPwm_JxJCWChvzMcrAJWvNzaZ8QKzQ7JcljufLU8UeeWifHCc0QsIC9NRpWlf9sEqtuPZ4pdSI0M53_zH3aW4IoTWpXnyDqMseeluvyodVBDpJjhAyHicDxEwEVY/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaYc5-RKOK3G3qWrcPwm_JxJCWChvzMcrAJWvNzaZ8QKzQ7JcljufLU8UeeWifHCc0QsIC9NRpWlf9sEqtuPZ4pdSI0M53_zH3aW4IoTWpXnyDqMseeluvyodVBDpJjhAyHicDxEwEVY/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some people believe we walked out of the Garden of Eden, some theorised we evolved from apes. Regardless, our survival is intertwined. <i>*Emo moment while I was framing the stuffed monkeys and the old man walked into frame and that whole ape-to-man connection thing just came to mind* </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4p3feCUXB9jC9Ra9VUN54tbfwaSUQ6UFJcea-xOzhcaDOtSOzjNk-rvSdO-wlxXEZ-GYN50J8D6gGOqLaIhP2AnTBSZqR7zKefDZaHcSXOl6wECy3oBAYtFVe4cijrXhDOZABtyCrBg/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4p3feCUXB9jC9Ra9VUN54tbfwaSUQ6UFJcea-xOzhcaDOtSOzjNk-rvSdO-wlxXEZ-GYN50J8D6gGOqLaIhP2AnTBSZqR7zKefDZaHcSXOl6wECy3oBAYtFVe4cijrXhDOZABtyCrBg/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scenes at the market. The coconut monkey heads look unnerving and creepy though.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRk0XqHBIMA8lCGjwFqtMYaBFuht2yakCnjZ7AGH6UtYrZTBN5sTXqf71v7ERGihKcAUZtYM3JFRxvb9N2Chzfol3tGUXrzApykpquPF5G5u5g64PGXujeHtnbyOuTpWPVsJoJxiPQuI/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRk0XqHBIMA8lCGjwFqtMYaBFuht2yakCnjZ7AGH6UtYrZTBN5sTXqf71v7ERGihKcAUZtYM3JFRxvb9N2Chzfol3tGUXrzApykpquPF5G5u5g64PGXujeHtnbyOuTpWPVsJoJxiPQuI/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thing that says "Sabah" is the iconic Rafflesia Flower (a.k.a. corpse lily and the largest single flower in the world) that calls this region home. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_FBHbtULu5LHEzIO4kLOk-Zrhytvgs1gRj9hJ-5hyphenhyphenYcn9E4oEGpYuq8_EGG1BeUJfymAriu8i5Cer4MLzNtp00h9oJyo-Rcx7kASiKaRmCjFup_NjW1aoIwWdO5vK6w3xFwtDgzbbjY/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_FBHbtULu5LHEzIO4kLOk-Zrhytvgs1gRj9hJ-5hyphenhyphenYcn9E4oEGpYuq8_EGG1BeUJfymAriu8i5Cer4MLzNtp00h9oJyo-Rcx7kASiKaRmCjFup_NjW1aoIwWdO5vK6w3xFwtDgzbbjY/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you <i>fan</i>cy a dreamcatcher or stuffed turtle keychain? :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqshYUgf57AirutPqOudKGzkL83MxuObxvE2-ZbNm8AVrDJeSiNwiunVylZjabYkcs7Xlm_ZmSkqp7XUarwz9dPjzOshT7qt65ThaR7wkC1JqnIkbapNFnLegGvuLxv3BZhaGo5ucd_ks/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqshYUgf57AirutPqOudKGzkL83MxuObxvE2-ZbNm8AVrDJeSiNwiunVylZjabYkcs7Xlm_ZmSkqp7XUarwz9dPjzOshT7qt65ThaR7wkC1JqnIkbapNFnLegGvuLxv3BZhaGo5ucd_ks/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Came across this stall with a delectable spread of confectioneries. Except that they are all fakes!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswMxSJJ9VdIpTlVgHB4aO2lF0jU2CPTOv_hBfygogviLP2pDMeJwZuT1sPVpPrW6E7B1tpPpEOQYwEw-q4R2mccyXJdExQelAWPCaqRB1kCBCDvpi_rueeXbkftHbod42hpMhVmQOOFI/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswMxSJJ9VdIpTlVgHB4aO2lF0jU2CPTOv_hBfygogviLP2pDMeJwZuT1sPVpPrW6E7B1tpPpEOQYwEw-q4R2mccyXJdExQelAWPCaqRB1kCBCDvpi_rueeXbkftHbod42hpMhVmQOOFI/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Such details went into making the fake food that they look better than the real thing! Glad to eat them all up with my eyes and don't have to worry about waistline.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1blKWwtfiQti_eKlWQ3IUtApil37_bOAZqlv9cNp6bvrMgx6aB_4ppZ_xNQzCB7CUr9H7l4b8yFhuBnT81l_8NHAUEd5rVwpWJBB2uVy0BuE-gmtx80ZIOPOJqd2Nm2mOkjVb_UdU42s/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1blKWwtfiQti_eKlWQ3IUtApil37_bOAZqlv9cNp6bvrMgx6aB_4ppZ_xNQzCB7CUr9H7l4b8yFhuBnT81l_8NHAUEd5rVwpWJBB2uVy0BuE-gmtx80ZIOPOJqd2Nm2mOkjVb_UdU42s/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Large collection of exotic seashells on sale although I'm pretty sure they cannot be brought out of the country. Buy at your own risk of flouting local prohibitions.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDGleI3MnZnTQJp0xuYBqoGzka4iX75oj4zBmf25Wkw8mpA1F59oVcbzUpi3JyKWFCOa7r9cT13Oq4fY-hftD_fhM25oVfHGXVnoM0SpLf3ds9wcOC-4FBZV6tffEftkaLs9zUb-bMxg/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDGleI3MnZnTQJp0xuYBqoGzka4iX75oj4zBmf25Wkw8mpA1F59oVcbzUpi3JyKWFCOa7r9cT13Oq4fY-hftD_fhM25oVfHGXVnoM0SpLf3ds9wcOC-4FBZV6tffEftkaLs9zUb-bMxg/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-38.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Read online that this eatery serves the best <i>laksa</i> in Kota Kinabalu but we were short on time and stomach space so didn't get to try. Perhaps next trip.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcR8NU4J_GWceEbegYF_ekajGYtzoTPc5WRK8ziZM97P5O0r_hQaG6lWXZFAjAYB6OUM1FXAx8E9rLFSfPd_8LYgZmZErK044F97oFLZPBYNfQM5DB4IqDeSNp4bwuNBqQBSwpxBEutw/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcR8NU4J_GWceEbegYF_ekajGYtzoTPc5WRK8ziZM97P5O0r_hQaG6lWXZFAjAYB6OUM1FXAx8E9rLFSfPd_8LYgZmZErK044F97oFLZPBYNfQM5DB4IqDeSNp4bwuNBqQBSwpxBEutw/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-39.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A chat with the local stallholders though, I was recommended to try the <i>laksa</i> at Kedai Kopi Kinabalu instead as this is the one locals prefer. The coffeeshop where the <i>laksa</i> stall is is just off a side street of the market.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XD-mliZZ6aamNcjETfNoNBNGU7hY9HZuMB-GKnt3ckFD2HwRybp5AMZD7FMQfeNcMx9W6TugelSTDwdJALvfpB5dBb4k2Z_vubgJX44KTyVQl_kYaKLINYzlynvJXlCZQrj9ZftInEs/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XD-mliZZ6aamNcjETfNoNBNGU7hY9HZuMB-GKnt3ckFD2HwRybp5AMZD7FMQfeNcMx9W6TugelSTDwdJALvfpB5dBb4k2Z_vubgJX44KTyVQl_kYaKLINYzlynvJXlCZQrj9ZftInEs/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-40.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Time was limited so I didn't try the <i>laksa</i> here. Hopefully when I get to visit Kota Kinabalu again, I can find out for myself why this stall hold the locals spellbound.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisC88xNzxIeegkfMtB48Sa0EGN98YRcmOQFtMELP0NgxiXI67Sik0A2dTH8CEoH1_ADq9iL-92zLk0iWdPExGpLQ7lMTMTVMZDsdS986Y7z2xtLeuYJa5QGDyqIjyGdlylOOQIeatNYCQ/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisC88xNzxIeegkfMtB48Sa0EGN98YRcmOQFtMELP0NgxiXI67Sik0A2dTH8CEoH1_ADq9iL-92zLk0iWdPExGpLQ7lMTMTVMZDsdS986Y7z2xtLeuYJa5QGDyqIjyGdlylOOQIeatNYCQ/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looks like antelope horns but they are actually a local snack wrapped in some kind of leaf. Again, my tastebuds had to wait for a future trip to sample its flavour.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeGkEcLG7cpzSTZ4qqUg4LfqLjkhjmJ8Ooc136_mF_MrsyA2LQhroQ4r6Z6SrJIATH4z10Fk7RM8w5MvQrO4KahjHuMBkteXTdCA0molkj7ZN8QXZqfxmk18axbXI_Ht_WTbhGgkQdgY/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeGkEcLG7cpzSTZ4qqUg4LfqLjkhjmJ8Ooc136_mF_MrsyA2LQhroQ4r6Z6SrJIATH4z10Fk7RM8w5MvQrO4KahjHuMBkteXTdCA0molkj7ZN8QXZqfxmk18axbXI_Ht_WTbhGgkQdgY/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-16.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Keropok</i> (fried crackers and tidbits) galore!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2pHJN9FDXiYsH5Kur14UW-CaYmXGandBbD5ukJt_tq4ploQXWr5XJ8nz94_KyDLuhl9jqjfYt8Yc4aaLrosz7TcRE0AB8hmTyPcN__oq7KfJGjZLTc6A2voBLA1ETgp_KQHbsD5uagA/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2pHJN9FDXiYsH5Kur14UW-CaYmXGandBbD5ukJt_tq4ploQXWr5XJ8nz94_KyDLuhl9jqjfYt8Yc4aaLrosz7TcRE0AB8hmTyPcN__oq7KfJGjZLTc6A2voBLA1ETgp_KQHbsD5uagA/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-20.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Freshly ground Sabah high mountain coffee. The roast was very aromatic.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1IP3IIEUAK-uRXga5ZpZMttjmc5tUiypzIvNKvgaSQmGywQy_uWHjHH4EC82CRAfV0zKHwb5JIMA2TWa_ijCXus0W73v9i22nhhaapdGQ1OnITB9FkZG174VZrJ1_oeaZUB9EFXrN0E/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1IP3IIEUAK-uRXga5ZpZMttjmc5tUiypzIvNKvgaSQmGywQy_uWHjHH4EC82CRAfV0zKHwb5JIMA2TWa_ijCXus0W73v9i22nhhaapdGQ1OnITB9FkZG174VZrJ1_oeaZUB9EFXrN0E/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-17.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Very friendly uncle selling natural herbs that are used in traditional remedies.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsuCRCkJ5dgZ9BuQz2NAVl0r1wVLFx9S1pKg3-lo_ovmQq-kAoe8qXEK7VHYtOTXq0jePDdk64GosVw1jA8qkVgCL-nnUrQ2ODloNaP_MC_JGPAase9Im15v-ITuBMRaMv8iNbfDJVmg/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsuCRCkJ5dgZ9BuQz2NAVl0r1wVLFx9S1pKg3-lo_ovmQq-kAoe8qXEK7VHYtOTXq0jePDdk64GosVw1jA8qkVgCL-nnUrQ2ODloNaP_MC_JGPAase9Im15v-ITuBMRaMv8iNbfDJVmg/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Best thing to buy in Kota Kinabalu, if you ask me, is Tongkat Ali. Its bark shavings can be steeped in hot water and drnak as a tea. Tongkat Ali is reportedly the Southeast Asian equivalent of Viagra as it is purported to have aphrodisiac effects for men. <br /><br />I was also told that Malay bodybuilders take Tongkat Ali supplement to enhance muscle development because the plant is supposedly good for that. Out of curiosity, I bought a pack. The tea made from Tongkat Ali is very, very bitter. And I'm someone who can eat bitter gourd raw!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGPPF1OAKuGBG4KUSQHrz3O5k8nnXfkklt8NJnh-y6oLHVGTCeaA-YhidjQR8KeSIA1IF2k8N3n6_ZhxZzoYSxpS6aOzIrKtBzPbMghc31aFW-3Hh-HO0RMRRZNMxd_h3c3KsFErHU_A/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGPPF1OAKuGBG4KUSQHrz3O5k8nnXfkklt8NJnh-y6oLHVGTCeaA-YhidjQR8KeSIA1IF2k8N3n6_ZhxZzoYSxpS6aOzIrKtBzPbMghc31aFW-3Hh-HO0RMRRZNMxd_h3c3KsFErHU_A/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-19.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The other must-buy in East Malaysia is the pepper. Sarawak, a neighbouring state of Sabah, is well-known for its fragrant and spicy peppercorns. Most commercial pepper powders would apparently contain other cheaper powders as fillers, so I was told by the stall owner, but pepper powder bought here is 100% real stuff. Dunno how true, but I bought since I'm a fan of pepper.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2rHB4jJniBzfv5oxqZxHhluRyLj0_L3yD4XnGwkvcA7_8V_g0NEiLyH_nluElWyCUwmgD8orzFMVxE9PMNqySe3TKQnITudboykSrFbgdB7x2n6UcU15Yn1dJ-aoYxOLs8wNafD6pFc/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2rHB4jJniBzfv5oxqZxHhluRyLj0_L3yD4XnGwkvcA7_8V_g0NEiLyH_nluElWyCUwmgD8orzFMVxE9PMNqySe3TKQnITudboykSrFbgdB7x2n6UcU15Yn1dJ-aoYxOLs8wNafD6pFc/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-26.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fruit tree saplings are also quite a thing here. Being an urbanite, this was a rare chance for me to get acquainted with how the plants of my favourite fruits look like.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEoCNS79LyWvvAPVAF5frJuCmyfvLRycmNFf34hj-GnSgxp_zh5aZIpHM6CQZwWvShCjXCyM27Jh2zByg67NJ866gmBv6z2U30F1W41kbT9yVHyZERaVU_bCZ7wnWSo_Sk84ng1f9ems/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEoCNS79LyWvvAPVAF5frJuCmyfvLRycmNFf34hj-GnSgxp_zh5aZIpHM6CQZwWvShCjXCyM27Jh2zByg67NJ866gmBv6z2U30F1W41kbT9yVHyZERaVU_bCZ7wnWSo_Sk84ng1f9ems/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-35.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nature is a commodity at Gaya Street Sunday Market.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCODAxAhmWzW56QEo5u3QgRYK_Q98f3qamgaglJpiHz-CykMU0PGttdBCffdQrYgqHVt4klKQniCUuMDPUEcyRSZUtkO95tNk3F22fy-PblmXXIrZ-lYqbRcr2htHXIp5maMP7BDAlD8M/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCODAxAhmWzW56QEo5u3QgRYK_Q98f3qamgaglJpiHz-CykMU0PGttdBCffdQrYgqHVt4klKQniCUuMDPUEcyRSZUtkO95tNk3F22fy-PblmXXIrZ-lYqbRcr2htHXIp5maMP7BDAlD8M/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-36.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9SucKU9BeehoMTFnPe8otQ91NfWEp9NeExqFCwpFh0g_EQfZ3gKZNfYTZYGiLJuyXDeHj1GDNhXfDCtevcZ8QDZaouRnWua4Nvz_WViUxkNM5e53MOW1AgIHVeX0YCA09mdasfk1TOQ/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9SucKU9BeehoMTFnPe8otQ91NfWEp9NeExqFCwpFh0g_EQfZ3gKZNfYTZYGiLJuyXDeHj1GDNhXfDCtevcZ8QDZaouRnWua4Nvz_WViUxkNM5e53MOW1AgIHVeX0YCA09mdasfk1TOQ/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-37.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Huge hibiscus the size of dinner plates when they are in full bloom.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ37U_NLXkK_f_KE01okMQXKQqj3Kr_XgXzu5ngIBA1c3P9Hdq0qVG5KXM5mG9pm_iPUUjfmTolsJuP-XWHt7CEZnYVLHJTvRIQdFli5-vBppF_t_vIfMF2y-vJDP71eE3z1SOoTwS1RE/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ37U_NLXkK_f_KE01okMQXKQqj3Kr_XgXzu5ngIBA1c3P9Hdq0qVG5KXM5mG9pm_iPUUjfmTolsJuP-XWHt7CEZnYVLHJTvRIQdFli5-vBppF_t_vIfMF2y-vJDP71eE3z1SOoTwS1RE/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-27.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Farm fresh no less! I was contemplating if I wanted to bring home my super loved petai bean pods. I can't explain it but I adore the flavour of this stink beans. Apparently, the chemical constituents that give it its distinct taste are cleansers for the kidneys.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15IvFPO57m-7FWfD_i0NTjcsAZeaAZ9Y-VeVsjj1aMkiHBcct5ocQY5veBsZ2R0_DQZSZQR77Efg1YYCeMFummJZi1zme8YXqCcdLhUNzytDwemXCV4AU3w04hx7D0jvJUHFL6LGwgbQ/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15IvFPO57m-7FWfD_i0NTjcsAZeaAZ9Y-VeVsjj1aMkiHBcct5ocQY5veBsZ2R0_DQZSZQR77Efg1YYCeMFummJZi1zme8YXqCcdLhUNzytDwemXCV4AU3w04hx7D0jvJUHFL6LGwgbQ/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-28.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm going bananas!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbc5vrhfPCmp0_vd-5idPsKLS2TmXy200u6T3bxVo7esZOMJ0t8S0dXRafu8hvPikQzr-CJlMmlrprlLNDHVZuabm0RRnt13n0YpAZrL_IjnnxdjSzJc-ok8AAhIkRUGOn88N5loQ4_c/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbc5vrhfPCmp0_vd-5idPsKLS2TmXy200u6T3bxVo7esZOMJ0t8S0dXRafu8hvPikQzr-CJlMmlrprlLNDHVZuabm0RRnt13n0YpAZrL_IjnnxdjSzJc-ok8AAhIkRUGOn88N5loQ4_c/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-30.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've not seen this fruit that I thought resembles a spherical toilet brush! Such a weird appearance. Somewhat like bristle coral on land.<br /><br />So this is the Tarap fruit and native to Borneo, which Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) is a part of. I didn't get to sample it but the internet tells me that it smells like durian but tastes like jackfruit. Two of my favourite fruits in one! Must try next time I visit again.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4uV6shw01F0iyb6t-yqykO0d-G3Mv2um9klVzdsESTm9QMoVsUqT4j-kNbOERaC4EMoQr3ZEh5658tL1eDNL-mn3nEVE0zWMqsbZEykYrO3QOs_7t-M8Wz5iXW5d9l3v_Y9xVz21BE4/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4uV6shw01F0iyb6t-yqykO0d-G3Mv2um9klVzdsESTm9QMoVsUqT4j-kNbOERaC4EMoQr3ZEh5658tL1eDNL-mn3nEVE0zWMqsbZEykYrO3QOs_7t-M8Wz5iXW5d9l3v_Y9xVz21BE4/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-32.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The guavas here look like they go to the gym. Huge and meaty! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6L5UgtOOtG5DJKHY4dFqcpq1owEf43t96rOt7NGGZ7-b_fteoii6Ui5c1360ux-6xoS63h86wzbhsFFMBRlNZ1ooJkWe7YSAAx5YdTiM5Vi3PJ2PxMs9eqjuOn0l1i47sjWN7zt5SIw/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6L5UgtOOtG5DJKHY4dFqcpq1owEf43t96rOt7NGGZ7-b_fteoii6Ui5c1360ux-6xoS63h86wzbhsFFMBRlNZ1ooJkWe7YSAAx5YdTiM5Vi3PJ2PxMs9eqjuOn0l1i47sjWN7zt5SIw/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-33.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The avocados too. They were larger than what I'm used to back in Singapore and had question marks what fruit this is until I took a closer look.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LM1a5CdRrzu45iz1eH-m6QUoRqslk2zW4iyfnHeuLHUcZx4EGXmkt-ofrBbZL36HG0RP_oC6aM-Um1c9UpQXRQizEaCyx3JfXpRqan-137XD8mVNOi-JgJJ4YZhQsX8vhI02VeqL06w/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LM1a5CdRrzu45iz1eH-m6QUoRqslk2zW4iyfnHeuLHUcZx4EGXmkt-ofrBbZL36HG0RP_oC6aM-Um1c9UpQXRQizEaCyx3JfXpRqan-137XD8mVNOi-JgJJ4YZhQsX8vhI02VeqL06w/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-34.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Baby gods, I mean gourds.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNXG7Bnrt4UNokXOOb1T1tIOZmJ1cY7LEYdyyNH9dsKIdKaPokiCyD5g67D8nkQ9LFh8aY6dLZuSZpLw60Gk7mUO_DdjLoFfDGusNzvS5lRmX1M3c6AKfaEfORcaYKJkjvJ3Fqe9CV9M/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNXG7Bnrt4UNokXOOb1T1tIOZmJ1cY7LEYdyyNH9dsKIdKaPokiCyD5g67D8nkQ9LFh8aY6dLZuSZpLw60Gk7mUO_DdjLoFfDGusNzvS5lRmX1M3c6AKfaEfORcaYKJkjvJ3Fqe9CV9M/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-29.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If I am a fruit bat, this is my heaven!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeKH6wPW7mO5oeJSN0vgWGNxFlKPWo1ZVbirnlXmkdj8JYHw8BD-N65vJRSF3R2EqK2GYPS9TgEeQ-2yv2aaxzGE6x1C7Mr3iSQD78A5SysT7qXfoQBLCmzYdCvdIqS9AGin7YIXGH7E/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeKH6wPW7mO5oeJSN0vgWGNxFlKPWo1ZVbirnlXmkdj8JYHw8BD-N65vJRSF3R2EqK2GYPS9TgEeQ-2yv2aaxzGE6x1C7Mr3iSQD78A5SysT7qXfoQBLCmzYdCvdIqS9AGin7YIXGH7E/s1600/KK-Gaya-Street-Market-31.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The name of these crimson fruits reflects my hope of finding one. Heh heh...But they taste rather sour. One of the aspects of love perhaps. Hopefully eat liao can find a lifetime partner! </span></td></tr>
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I had only about an hour to explore Gaya Street Sunday Market before heading off to the off-shore islets of Kota Kinabalu. Before coming here, I thought one hour was excessive as I expected it to be similar to other street markets I've visited so far in Malaysia.<br /><br />But I was wrong and pleasantly surprised by what I encountered here. My heart smiled because of the genuine friendliness of the locals and my eyes widened at the incredulity of nature!<br />
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<b>Related Posts:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/09/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-supersized.html" target="_blank">Supersized Nature at Kinabalu Park</a><br /><br /><a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/10/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-pekan.html" target="_blank">Pekan Nabalu and the Mountain of Love </a><br /><br /><a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/10/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-milking.html" target="_blank">Milking the <i>Moo</i>ments of a Highland Holiday at Desa Dairy Farm</a><br />
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<br />Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-18170172660934814392018-10-05T00:23:00.000+08:002018-10-05T00:23:11.148+08:00Kota Kinabalu (East Malaysia) - Milking the Mooments of a Highland Holiday at Desa Dairy Farm<b>Date of Exploration:</b> 11 August 2018<br />
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Mooving along our day trip itinerary which took us to <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/10/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-pekan.html" target="_blank">Pekan Nabalu</a> for a panoramic appreciation of Mount Kinabalu's grandeur followed by meeting some of the native botanical giants at <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/09/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-supersized.html" target="_blank">Kinabalu Park</a>, we arrived next at an attraction that has been...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY7u2pcEQcSXs3cm44yOulz86Mn9FfsPbiY6pEOFubZ7qjYpMKsT82Z55r4h-tw0NBl1I-yKDC1JLDyTsC0Z7ygs4XGY9pPx21tb3ueKV8cZF2eJwjPaAisd5bQuPTRS3GFobDy_9dFg/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY7u2pcEQcSXs3cm44yOulz86Mn9FfsPbiY6pEOFubZ7qjYpMKsT82Z55r4h-tw0NBl1I-yKDC1JLDyTsC0Z7ygs4XGY9pPx21tb3ueKV8cZF2eJwjPaAisd5bQuPTRS3GFobDy_9dFg/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... in Kota Kinabalu's tourism scene.</span></td></tr>
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Resembling a page out of a New Zealand travel brochure - waves of mountains, verdant fields and idyllic countryside charms, it is no wonder that visitors are herding to Desa Dairy Farm for some scenic grazing.<br />
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Plus, of course, the lower highland temperature of around 20°C makes it a cool escape from Sabah's sauna climate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zfG_1JAualAfeg-zgmXrbNHq58ke0BHr1eLWR3mAPOdGlEO2ntSjoNv6IA-NC0Z5csAqYJUKbH2_FiMgwtpYmtvwUWnOQsob7tqPCUpfiV_xGWeA5WoPWckaadOniElpw4_QxHmjyLE/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zfG_1JAualAfeg-zgmXrbNHq58ke0BHr1eLWR3mAPOdGlEO2ntSjoNv6IA-NC0Z5csAqYJUKbH2_FiMgwtpYmtvwUWnOQsob7tqPCUpfiV_xGWeA5WoPWckaadOniElpw4_QxHmjyLE/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The village of Mesilau, where Desa Dairy Farm calls home, is nestled on a high plain with the stately Mount Kinabalu for a backdrop.</span></td></tr>
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Getting here by public transport is a mystery as it seems non-existent; so the best way is to join a packaged day tour, hire a private transport with driver, or self drive. It takes about 2.5 hours to get here from Kota Kinabalu City and under 30 minutes drive from Kinabalu Park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OpHwAYyt3jaXBXdofhMzb3p1k-64alKxZX-FS8PFHIfksMlfBKoCcIMrCtv1WtmQtPET279m3KKdjmC7WrimjIpn6QO6u-JN0b7i8wPPVPhYFy_I2sh_bdf8TrLH-_QyDCvFGpr8mB8/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OpHwAYyt3jaXBXdofhMzb3p1k-64alKxZX-FS8PFHIfksMlfBKoCcIMrCtv1WtmQtPET279m3KKdjmC7WrimjIpn6QO6u-JN0b7i8wPPVPhYFy_I2sh_bdf8TrLH-_QyDCvFGpr8mB8/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrance driveway to Desa Dairy Farm. An entry fee applies (Adult - RM5, Child - RM4) and our minivan queued for about 20 minutes before it was our turn to pay and enter. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iciNG8AaK6EAYPI0n3XnLIBBUu-U76VxBUrKL1tNA9PV6oOINkU-h1xN23j0DyO5x3dA633Zn5dV6lBbsqZDu2OPT4vgZM-gbhekt6wUQej8VB4uTiwny5-C-BywDwoy_OzlWfljz6Q/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iciNG8AaK6EAYPI0n3XnLIBBUu-U76VxBUrKL1tNA9PV6oOINkU-h1xN23j0DyO5x3dA633Zn5dV6lBbsqZDu2OPT4vgZM-gbhekt6wUQej8VB4uTiwny5-C-BywDwoy_OzlWfljz6Q/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wouldn't have thought this is Malaysia!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuFXZ9X4yRPO8WdLezJIfgVFQOtXSRFT6JRiytrphFshDfUpiMn9HNTSWYPaWDTaUFrTEVgVokfuucgqnOvy4-gxEKTCaIp4NYatG-eqsAnQ7fKcQJMA2Rw-BtbW8aPkDf57c5k3pd1c/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuFXZ9X4yRPO8WdLezJIfgVFQOtXSRFT6JRiytrphFshDfUpiMn9HNTSWYPaWDTaUFrTEVgVokfuucgqnOvy4-gxEKTCaIp4NYatG-eqsAnQ7fKcQJMA2Rw-BtbW8aPkDf57c5k3pd1c/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-16.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another setting to shoot Mount Kinabalu.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQQxM1Th7oQqM9VGHh5GM4XvRLLgR9RXuFdDDNlyomohemFgk28IZy-SWUmS4WTHdUBh3H3VqTYSiZVkuQ4_Ny8-TTd75jOu9n4MhQkJe_wD7avRIIfVkonFerROKqX8-LQkBiuZAAxM/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQQxM1Th7oQqM9VGHh5GM4XvRLLgR9RXuFdDDNlyomohemFgk28IZy-SWUmS4WTHdUBh3H3VqTYSiZVkuQ4_Ny8-TTd75jOu9n4MhQkJe_wD7avRIIfVkonFerROKqX8-LQkBiuZAAxM/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clouds caressing the mountain peak ever so gently.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA0B8vO8nTSbKkEjYo-vP7W8lLwQTdX6cxEfOTys3MfMM8ulQrfGweWJDMtm8n2ALrZqGxixQn_tiJAoqsiT_FpHohJm6KYrHphb424Ynow_xPqMC-Zh0rnB1eekK2T-5ip255iN2Zs4/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA0B8vO8nTSbKkEjYo-vP7W8lLwQTdX6cxEfOTys3MfMM8ulQrfGweWJDMtm8n2ALrZqGxixQn_tiJAoqsiT_FpHohJm6KYrHphb424Ynow_xPqMC-Zh0rnB1eekK2T-5ip255iN2Zs4/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-17.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Purple fireworks. Quite some interesting flowering plants can be spotted around Desa Dairy Farm.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvblFEvc_8rra_r7mpLGX9OSitmHfMXHVCByZOSwL2USSINFYpJ4mKjQZx7wGokviWTcmH25dTyN2gj68zh6QctjzdXiATct849hy-I9MfrwOXhGSoHO_URRuxsUPydKhhkmeoog0SFS0/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvblFEvc_8rra_r7mpLGX9OSitmHfMXHVCByZOSwL2USSINFYpJ4mKjQZx7wGokviWTcmH25dTyN2gj68zh6QctjzdXiATct849hy-I9MfrwOXhGSoHO_URRuxsUPydKhhkmeoog0SFS0/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Desa Dairy Farm is nicknamed Kota Kinabalu's Little New Zealand.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXciJREWV7-oPzVPVKn_4kGu2jUQolLpThguvYLBtXZjFDrfwAIvrNSchi9vAGe755bxSN9BVO1_h3uoW29JT5R6MAKius6GgBstYwy_8nG5UMxqMk_3JCN2mhcmyb9H3soGKJOV7PQGs/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXciJREWV7-oPzVPVKn_4kGu2jUQolLpThguvYLBtXZjFDrfwAIvrNSchi9vAGe755bxSN9BVO1_h3uoW29JT5R6MAKius6GgBstYwy_8nG5UMxqMk_3JCN2mhcmyb9H3soGKJOV7PQGs/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Desa is actually a local household brand name with generations of Sabahans growing up with milk from this farm. The farm serves only the domestic market and does not produce enough to export.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwc55Kk5BiLWiDQs3I7MWoIbhQNt4TvXWNOReXx2zajf-5EpncOGqbPPD4PIfJ804oHRBs-vD7h02Meu8TwK8CyIn3k4EaETmzYrKThpLqAlXsWgDjuaH7IZPyspWjXjeqRq0TmB5di3w/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwc55Kk5BiLWiDQs3I7MWoIbhQNt4TvXWNOReXx2zajf-5EpncOGqbPPD4PIfJ804oHRBs-vD7h02Meu8TwK8CyIn3k4EaETmzYrKThpLqAlXsWgDjuaH7IZPyspWjXjeqRq0TmB5di3w/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Step on in to enjoy fresh milk, ice-cream, yogurt, cheese, cakes and also watch the milking process.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERGXF-r0Gx_C_GlwIf-2VRjtnyunLRaAXTIsdO9_W2rIngXiWSVN-vupgf_yaQRpUjmsazmmBbMaBkidTwos_0pOdTRNWM89MG_DjxQHAdbkwa3ApZjhpGgb-XxT2bxit-vOyD4vPn-c/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERGXF-r0Gx_C_GlwIf-2VRjtnyunLRaAXTIsdO9_W2rIngXiWSVN-vupgf_yaQRpUjmsazmmBbMaBkidTwos_0pOdTRNWM89MG_DjxQHAdbkwa3ApZjhpGgb-XxT2bxit-vOyD4vPn-c/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Viewing gallery to watch the milking process which happens from 2:30 - 4:30pm daily.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1GiBueF34fjrprrk_RGRF-xs4GWKIlbWiJPQzp5oczYX4pDmwVqSL1NPNT_Fy9l6nn-GjoBeWmFzj-NiB586Wn5j3S_u9Bvp0l2hkaWSliEB85cZhzVIpwZnEFFjsG7Fhcb0Qbqvgy4/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1GiBueF34fjrprrk_RGRF-xs4GWKIlbWiJPQzp5oczYX4pDmwVqSL1NPNT_Fy9l6nn-GjoBeWmFzj-NiB586Wn5j3S_u9Bvp0l2hkaWSliEB85cZhzVIpwZnEFFjsG7Fhcb0Qbqvgy4/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The farm produces about 900,000 litres of milk every year.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7BKXTYcVI-ansJKH1_Cgt4S9f3eHc0xhm8PebymupG3u-N7hVXRsD45kWMLJ_1lagyzqFLKAU9urNd7zk3PKLVfD7aOXYnwbVlJPGtmDOr5PyaE-hVHLOfTGZBzDBdeOPtatX8cpJV0/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7BKXTYcVI-ansJKH1_Cgt4S9f3eHc0xhm8PebymupG3u-N7hVXRsD45kWMLJ_1lagyzqFLKAU9urNd7zk3PKLVfD7aOXYnwbVlJPGtmDOr5PyaE-hVHLOfTGZBzDBdeOPtatX8cpJV0/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cows at the farm are of the Holstein-Friesian breed, which produces one of the highest milk outputs and also interesting to look at because of the black-and-white patterns. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DM7LDFoG8qprgbrBT7ywO8IjW1f0y4tMXre8NJXfn-9fwRWcvItsNm1c5KHOBDfX_GzKeSO5os9IlBE4JxyO2mtUnGaNXq5H_KpHVMSr_M5ZIKuHQ2d9jPZ72enx-Y6hDZ36scKv1SI/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DM7LDFoG8qprgbrBT7ywO8IjW1f0y4tMXre8NJXfn-9fwRWcvItsNm1c5KHOBDfX_GzKeSO5os9IlBE4JxyO2mtUnGaNXq5H_KpHVMSr_M5ZIKuHQ2d9jPZ72enx-Y6hDZ36scKv1SI/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Milk straight from the farm... can't get any fresher than this. Too bad I'm lactose intolerant so I refrained from tasting anything at the farm in case I leave a brown all the way back to Kota Kinabalu City.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqTdQS80M_9HGbidvLvrPR6MexZmVJCWl5BoKcgFhkw3tMT3fqne1StA05tl_5lk7Vtg0XGIK502tqAIjZ_ZA04VD_CZR5Kl0oZH3vFYU0UPr2_sCaEzselFR5tVfLvYFAdIBYFEJrLY/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqTdQS80M_9HGbidvLvrPR6MexZmVJCWl5BoKcgFhkw3tMT3fqne1StA05tl_5lk7Vtg0XGIK502tqAIjZ_ZA04VD_CZR5Kl0oZH3vFYU0UPr2_sCaEzselFR5tVfLvYFAdIBYFEJrLY/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After viewing the milking process and tasting the dairy products (have to pay hor, not free), walk around to the back of the milking facility to a small shed to feed some calves and baby goats. They are perpetually hungry!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHpY6T4J9HYwhWZ3TaNr_PkeVXIl6u9JXJylihxsah5-Z4IMF85uQekne8uyne0f8B0oSIUYc20nvbHMXWsJ0urJNJLRGFYR8W2Aq5aitv4DNPLQfTPQz8qqY2ttxvDJmE3bOc0OMR4o/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHpY6T4J9HYwhWZ3TaNr_PkeVXIl6u9JXJylihxsah5-Z4IMF85uQekne8uyne0f8B0oSIUYc20nvbHMXWsJ0urJNJLRGFYR8W2Aq5aitv4DNPLQfTPQz8qqY2ttxvDJmE3bOc0OMR4o/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feeding milk to get milk... a bottle costs RM1 to feed the animals. Same price goes for a bundle of grass feed. Have to put up with some smell from the livestock.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym-Zs9U5VfRkjQjVRk0QBsPlfLacvYaiQWQVZ30sFv0odJ_At7WBRQmTnbwLf5Z_06M02zmu_GNgoPNJ892Enn_Ax-fOA26_fB-iUs31DrYGv-nae_uMBi9g3hEuVx4D5_LkHnHZHmhM/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-13a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym-Zs9U5VfRkjQjVRk0QBsPlfLacvYaiQWQVZ30sFv0odJ_At7WBRQmTnbwLf5Z_06M02zmu_GNgoPNJ892Enn_Ax-fOA26_fB-iUs31DrYGv-nae_uMBi9g3hEuVx4D5_LkHnHZHmhM/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-13a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This fella is rather friendly and endearing. Makes me feel bad for liking beef.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm69jnZO9zs2R2g_qTlykulKuNo8pajJ3muzNFWZjlEoJjx0nJLwKn9JHhtCWDHqcljxvAJH4top3uN-8DCv7WjKOLja7hP4-C0OfhQR94O8mRyiIXjoYenY70mjDlIGNlfCWOHeJYOfk/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm69jnZO9zs2R2g_qTlykulKuNo8pajJ3muzNFWZjlEoJjx0nJLwKn9JHhtCWDHqcljxvAJH4top3uN-8DCv7WjKOLja7hP4-C0OfhQR94O8mRyiIXjoYenY70mjDlIGNlfCWOHeJYOfk/s1600/Desa-Dairy-Farm-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">First you feed. Then you bleat. Hope not bleed.</span></td></tr>
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The visit to Desa Dairy Farm was quite an eye opener to discover such a picturesque highland farm setting in Malaysia. But because of my lactose intolerance and restraint in sampling the fresh produce, and the large visiting crowd, the place became a yawn for me after about 15 minutes.<br />
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If you can control passing mootion after dairying up, you'll have a more fulfilling here.<br />
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<b>Related Posts:</b><br />
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<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/10/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-pekan.html" target="_blank">Pekan Nabalu and the Mountain of Love</a><br />
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<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/10/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-pekan.html" target="_blank">Supersized Nature at Kinabalu Park</a> Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-64910179780396138992018-10-02T16:45:00.000+08:002018-10-02T16:45:05.052+08:00Kota Kinabalu (East Malaysia) - Pekan Nabalu and the Mountain of Love<b>Date of Exploration:</b> 11 August 2018<br />
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If there is only one thing that have to be done for any first-timer to Kota Kinabalu, it is to experience the grandeur of Mount Kinabalu.<br />
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Being the highest peak in the Malay archipelago (which includes countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines and East Timor), the mountain is as much renowned for being one of the most <a href="http://www.asiaone.com/travel/mt-kinabalu-steps-lonely-planets-book-worlds-most-epic-hikes" target="_blank">Epic Hikes of the World</a> as it is revered by local indigenous tribes as the sacred forever place of ancestral spirits.<br />
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A <i>climbmatic</i> experience of the formidable mountain would be to go on a daring 2D1N trek to its summit. But for those of us with legs of still (instead of steel), the good news is that there are several scenic spots to get a climax from Mount Kinabalu nonetheless.<br />
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These prime viewing spots of the mountain present themselves along the way to <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/09/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-supersized.html" target="_blank">Kinabalu Park</a>; some of them designated, some of them requiring a quick eye to spot a photo opportunity by the side of the road. Of the designated spots, Pekan Nabalu is the most popular for.. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxVbuzSDIYH3XI7WQVLG4M7uY4vud4rJNFF9uTgeIxpSb9G5vVReBuHMTzwq7Gwd7xIf0tpwG4DiiPmGFjT0sG_FPcAopZOrZkRSdQ-kLQ_IrujUMszoWK5EnqwWAJ7wCFWYB1-nu1T0/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxVbuzSDIYH3XI7WQVLG4M7uY4vud4rJNFF9uTgeIxpSb9G5vVReBuHMTzwq7Gwd7xIf0tpwG4DiiPmGFjT0sG_FPcAopZOrZkRSdQ-kLQ_IrujUMszoWK5EnqwWAJ7wCFWYB1-nu1T0/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrance to Pekan Nabalu, a popular pit stop for taking postcard shots of Mount Kinabalu.</span></td></tr>
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Located about 12km from the entrance to Kinabalu Park, the small market town is a popular toilet stop and also for guides to give climbers a preview of the mountain. In older days, Pekan Nabalu was also a gathering place where surrounding local tribes mix and barter trade.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhxlI_Ztusnt0PDGewW_XFlXjuYHe02-UkSyvLS_9JWJQUz9s8ikOmicX8Ij36wVN22gUaOOfr1MQHYb22WhFhYj9Wk87w3t4X15Vt9paeAwF0tigamMH_9H-yShApdSxy9MDFfciSnA/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhxlI_Ztusnt0PDGewW_XFlXjuYHe02-UkSyvLS_9JWJQUz9s8ikOmicX8Ij36wVN22gUaOOfr1MQHYb22WhFhYj9Wk87w3t4X15Vt9paeAwF0tigamMH_9H-yShApdSxy9MDFfciSnA/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A 15m tall watch tower (which was closed during my visit) and a giant pineapple mark Pekan Nabalu prominently. Looks like Spongebob would feel right at home here. LOL</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>GETTING TO PEKAN NABALU</b></span><br />
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For a tourist, I can't think of any better way to get here than following a packaged day tour or booking a private transport to go and get back. Pekan Nabalu should be a pit stop on a full-day itinerary that typically covers Kinabalu Park, Desa Dairy Farm and Poring Hot Spring.<br />
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Pekan (which means "town") Nabalu is about 2 hours by car from Kota Kinabalu's downtown tourist hub where Jesselton Quay is located.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Peakture Perfect</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">At the
edge of Pekan Nabalu is an unobstructed viewing platform to get awed by
Mount Kinabalu. As the top of the mountain is usually shrouded by
lenticular cloud, it takes good luck to get a glimpse of its peak and a picture with it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oxLTTdZGsD1KOHZz6sgPeK1MTo7KqfWPZAQggq0eA1srs4WDFVorgjMWqymTK770ttfLF7_eh7FC2Srz9e68ze4IfPLJjfG-ePk4fARZNRvhlcUGtneDxeJB37SGyql9BV_B-qfCp_4/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oxLTTdZGsD1KOHZz6sgPeK1MTo7KqfWPZAQggq0eA1srs4WDFVorgjMWqymTK770ttfLF7_eh7FC2Srz9e68ze4IfPLJjfG-ePk4fARZNRvhlcUGtneDxeJB37SGyql9BV_B-qfCp_4/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although
the best chance of seeing the mountain top clearly is purportedly before
10am, we arrived around 11am and still managed to meet the peak. Glad
that the rabbit's foot was on us that day :)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a9q2ViLrwq8Yqqir6yaP27zQo5yefkq8VVeE5nYLFQOj3MUhMMQDPKk1uue_hYlRsSV8Xt4gNPpbm11rA6I3pIatb-WfVEyRnuf6Fzx7TDm9eRUZ9u61qful_pwJA1cnfoFFk9QmTI0/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a9q2ViLrwq8Yqqir6yaP27zQo5yefkq8VVeE5nYLFQOj3MUhMMQDPKk1uue_hYlRsSV8Xt4gNPpbm11rA6I3pIatb-WfVEyRnuf6Fzx7TDm9eRUZ9u61qful_pwJA1cnfoFFk9QmTI0/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A fading signboard identifies the 4 visible peaks on the mountain top, namely (from left to right) - Alexandra Peak, Low's Peak, St John's Peak and South Peak.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljvGaWAN3j-aI2Kd64wRo-CUm5NialyD_DSiqtkR46ErY1NBolyoxkB4nIc9lzl36cMTCJtk2oXdFJOBfDZliCJoqALiuEky3OwEL2cNRoxpmIK0XQkiso1duRDodDY_9iqeU__kBh54/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljvGaWAN3j-aI2Kd64wRo-CUm5NialyD_DSiqtkR46ErY1NBolyoxkB4nIc9lzl36cMTCJtk2oXdFJOBfDZliCJoqALiuEky3OwEL2cNRoxpmIK0XQkiso1duRDodDY_9iqeU__kBh54/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A small pavilion provides shelter from the sun while taking in the view of Mount Kinabalu.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVua_2GWMSxrk4_3frK2q8ZP1-zRqHotWnhbs39S28pEDhAGztxK9cJxqo0F4yyTDB0GDziOdTNpzxOyo8wet5oZyuFIhb_7K36psR5LaNVG__zbUQ1hAqMlMwCucHugDjy4eaQItYGA/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVua_2GWMSxrk4_3frK2q8ZP1-zRqHotWnhbs39S28pEDhAGztxK9cJxqo0F4yyTDB0GDziOdTNpzxOyo8wet5oZyuFIhb_7K36psR5LaNVG__zbUQ1hAqMlMwCucHugDjy4eaQItYGA/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nature framing nature... The mountain is an inspiration behind several local legends and folklore ranging from the resting place for the souls of ancestors to the loyalty and undying love of a Bornean woman married to a Chinese prince. So the mountain is kind of a monument of love in the local culture.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91HlQjUp0XFQNjdaNV1wuhpTHOJZ2WwZRWOX_Du0GegW4g2xnJia_tPRDHd5Rmzda8758wRDXX1y_GEkuR8MAYXw8u7sjjqAmH7uPidmjqH8_uB1dfnolNqQDkuQnwGAKw90-7CdBXQc/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91HlQjUp0XFQNjdaNV1wuhpTHOJZ2WwZRWOX_Du0GegW4g2xnJia_tPRDHd5Rmzda8758wRDXX1y_GEkuR8MAYXw8u7sjjqAmH7uPidmjqH8_uB1dfnolNqQDkuQnwGAKw90-7CdBXQc/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Standing at 4,095.2m, the sole way to earn a right to brag is to trek to the mountain top. Strong legs are not the only requirement for the climb though, as a dangerous 300m stretch along a section of the face of the mountain with just a tight walking space and a sheer plunge off the cliff should one miss a step, calls for a fearless heart as well.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpbobVK_mazsutOnBNFehIfzZIHlxeJNqX3zvvuFef5bHNMuy_ZvRDi2_fT8IsfUuxNjJg2tLvxTq_35VzWTVFkIQhGEPYbWQTXOIrI1-v-RUkyndtIYV1ppOGWJyLl5Bm5q3uOPy0p8/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpbobVK_mazsutOnBNFehIfzZIHlxeJNqX3zvvuFef5bHNMuy_ZvRDi2_fT8IsfUuxNjJg2tLvxTq_35VzWTVFkIQhGEPYbWQTXOIrI1-v-RUkyndtIYV1ppOGWJyLl5Bm5q3uOPy0p8/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A <a href="https://xiajourney.wordpress.com/2013/12/13/torture-bration-on-mount-kinabalu/" target="_blank">friend of mine</a> who made it to the summit swore she will never do it again because of the life-ending 300m "Death Stretch". It was dark when she ascended the mountain and did not realise she was flirting with danger. On the way down, when the sun had risen, she discovered to her horror how frightening that stretch was. Without another way to descend Mount Kinabalu, she mustered the courage to make the crossing while chanting to herself "I must make it back alive" the entire time.<br /><br />People have died falling off the cliff because of negligence or paralysis from fear so consider carefully if deciding to climb. A permit is needed to climb Mount Kinabalu and currently, only about 130 permits are issued daily with a waiting list that lasts a couple of months.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOspzFwJ6ofgatCgsBM6_bvcjESmwkcuXpO-1Cy6IjHn-9FMTI-zsNdSXr3xbEq5beoV1q0vtYWcTDRUpNz-AWFjC1e4v6n3zJEvnGvNwX-T7nHz5E35h9WL7ImKLSw-AI46un7uDHjxE/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOspzFwJ6ofgatCgsBM6_bvcjESmwkcuXpO-1Cy6IjHn-9FMTI-zsNdSXr3xbEq5beoV1q0vtYWcTDRUpNz-AWFjC1e4v6n3zJEvnGvNwX-T7nHz5E35h9WL7ImKLSw-AI46un7uDHjxE/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, if it is not in your mind to make a climb, Pekan Nabalu offers that perfect spot to commemorate having met this geological giant.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVXPS8XM2jxxcntZFoAsdSsnefoBgkGGxdhdIOeHGeTfC26tI7j70fV_A10wMxm_-BPpbQxrTeGq3SORQ9dOWoY7HPLVUy0wRMxArJF1VB8M_QqR0JLzcLuzB0tWyMy4toh2tOU14jhg/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVXPS8XM2jxxcntZFoAsdSsnefoBgkGGxdhdIOeHGeTfC26tI7j70fV_A10wMxm_-BPpbQxrTeGq3SORQ9dOWoY7HPLVUy0wRMxArJF1VB8M_QqR0JLzcLuzB0tWyMy4toh2tOU14jhg/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Apart from a jaw-dropping view of Mount Kinabalu, rows of stores selling traditional handicrafts, souvenirs, tidbits and fruits can also be found at Pekan Nabalu.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t2LK9wfzx19Ei881dhuyb__UNT_qpqXkI3tiRwNeVcqsbKQ62hoQrcUGfwXIVhmRwrEeuSDRdVLR3qQnxTno8ZXk1maESPv6sdLStCVitdWOAzaPqCQ80ezNkwxVLK1AyZ80V8Ditdo/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t2LK9wfzx19Ei881dhuyb__UNT_qpqXkI3tiRwNeVcqsbKQ62hoQrcUGfwXIVhmRwrEeuSDRdVLR3qQnxTno8ZXk1maESPv6sdLStCVitdWOAzaPqCQ80ezNkwxVLK1AyZ80V8Ditdo/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interior of the shopping hut in the shape of the Dusun tribe's longhouse.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlo8-WWOQG3bZy3Nu4WCtzr_1-sELa2-Rn8ihkGc2wEWDKMGOluYFDb8krHuJeYQ-WpcqHnauUfxWCulj1_4ku8SGG0lO9FULNLLApkTmmkVgB11t3slFOnpaaASzefuJOCxfHiuku_4/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlo8-WWOQG3bZy3Nu4WCtzr_1-sELa2-Rn8ihkGc2wEWDKMGOluYFDb8krHuJeYQ-WpcqHnauUfxWCulj1_4ku8SGG0lO9FULNLLApkTmmkVgB11t3slFOnpaaASzefuJOCxfHiuku_4/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizards are considered a good luck charm and symbol of regeneration in local beliefs. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2zMTup9kDtI3-sRSVcJ-DcbcHPOcrJDPTwwOphQ_KvGKaM9lP0ZVR6w68NGgm-QTN0kU3oe7I6ZtyzqZR6dGEc1oTJfaj0cG78h71p56PCG7Nmkz20zRL3HNGiP4rlVRmaq9egjJpvg/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2zMTup9kDtI3-sRSVcJ-DcbcHPOcrJDPTwwOphQ_KvGKaM9lP0ZVR6w68NGgm-QTN0kU3oe7I6ZtyzqZR6dGEc1oTJfaj0cG78h71p56PCG7Nmkz20zRL3HNGiP4rlVRmaq9egjJpvg/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A row of fruit stalls offering a taste of local farming produce. I read that the fruits at Pekan Nabalu are grown organically without pesticides. Not sure how true.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37EL_2k7tMhWZSp5UzyxjJ4IzVHp1RfvLWUMcBQWdLA57sIDSSVyqfxMj35AY0ybpZKoC1yjOQX4XsWFBcxukY7dQ0MsfAFwpWutZZxRrSe7hjxizB9TzmGKO76-qtxrQsJWe4pIH-iQ/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37EL_2k7tMhWZSp5UzyxjJ4IzVHp1RfvLWUMcBQWdLA57sIDSSVyqfxMj35AY0ybpZKoC1yjOQX4XsWFBcxukY7dQ0MsfAFwpWutZZxRrSe7hjxizB9TzmGKO76-qtxrQsJWe4pIH-iQ/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Local snacks and flavourings vie for the tourist dollars at Pekan Nabalu.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiyLZTgFJ1SvmavtaVpTxzWvWocTlhpFY24CQqOKwJFtxt4Rn5_mRfPNQLWgunO9JztjDRnjUzuWYNBJSTUgajCzkUxvWeKGJ0aIe-nFGGG-_eJbWvvKFymq5hVME-UdPh_yRnHAqZ7g/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiyLZTgFJ1SvmavtaVpTxzWvWocTlhpFY24CQqOKwJFtxt4Rn5_mRfPNQLWgunO9JztjDRnjUzuWYNBJSTUgajCzkUxvWeKGJ0aIe-nFGGG-_eJbWvvKFymq5hVME-UdPh_yRnHAqZ7g/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looks like the pineapple is Pekan Nabalu's mascot fruit. It's everywhere.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhub0rINpRpPq7djSGcKiyu8Ukk65f6Moo5x7-NwvyaqKOU2Xln7HFlLeVZ8wi_nOCG-78ttKTaSzkVsF-RLbttaGJpYTn-5W7xVy2n4dUkmDi4AY5UUX7JDkj1hbZSKizUA-HvFXI2_dY/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhub0rINpRpPq7djSGcKiyu8Ukk65f6Moo5x7-NwvyaqKOU2Xln7HFlLeVZ8wi_nOCG-78ttKTaSzkVsF-RLbttaGJpYTn-5W7xVy2n4dUkmDi4AY5UUX7JDkj1hbZSKizUA-HvFXI2_dY/s1600/Pekan-Nabalu-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Behind the rows of stalls, there are other opportunities to frame a shot of Mount Kinabalu so do wander around.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Beyond Pekan Nabalu</b></span><br />
<br />
Outside of Pekan Nabalu, there are other pocket opportunities to shoot Mount Kinabalu where vegetation along the road has cleared. We took a private van so it was easy for us to request a short stop, safely of course, by the side of the road for a few snaps of the mountain from slightly different angles and foreground foliage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8VTlCTfcJ9k7EISrLZm1JmMqRpqvOchPjdYw8yzDx57j3iahhun0kFloMwCttCDrNyZeoqRHvQ0hbIRODpCbqXFHToHsPClBm1RaBGO5WQQMSe0I92A364xSp8ln4tQ3aTC_u_WWLM0/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8VTlCTfcJ9k7EISrLZm1JmMqRpqvOchPjdYw8yzDx57j3iahhun0kFloMwCttCDrNyZeoqRHvQ0hbIRODpCbqXFHToHsPClBm1RaBGO5WQQMSe0I92A364xSp8ln4tQ3aTC_u_WWLM0/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shot of Mount Kinabalu from a roadside stop.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldTOltEwFXeQHw6DtCAoPGZ-NkKAis3dWMETXVvAYh8qP6a-fCktADmDn0Sq1YuLofUK9qHtpsnXaylyp2exsVRT88Tyoz81_lUMENB-ao17NhtOFl_Q2bRL08Y0-hqgYCDxnoPewtbE/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldTOltEwFXeQHw6DtCAoPGZ-NkKAis3dWMETXVvAYh8qP6a-fCktADmDn0Sq1YuLofUK9qHtpsnXaylyp2exsVRT88Tyoz81_lUMENB-ao17NhtOFl_Q2bRL08Y0-hqgYCDxnoPewtbE/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Channeling Julie Andrews (from "The Sound of Music") in this roadside shot with the majestic mountain.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1BDO0BoyGy2vxzo3zcT22AeiGbw915YQRVVmsVcO6U8kaxpH0clzEW0mcBR5yCVEZdGj4vu8QRlVAxM2JgRL52KY2Lzb6zLfyC3Rh9xYFw0WQtopmG3yv9JXHHf70C_yNl2y12n6Cfs/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1BDO0BoyGy2vxzo3zcT22AeiGbw915YQRVVmsVcO6U8kaxpH0clzEW0mcBR5yCVEZdGj4vu8QRlVAxM2JgRL52KY2Lzb6zLfyC3Rh9xYFw0WQtopmG3yv9JXHHf70C_yNl2y12n6Cfs/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another prime viewing spot of Mount Kinabalu can be found not far from the entrance to Kinabalu Park.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknRXnfwyE2tA-CunBeWXIsADWq8drqyMFz3khStw3AAyrWgvTptgLtoyvAdgU3DNEEdxpYCfs7hOq7ThQ1iuu676cHnc9yLHoD2lv3H3szTYokLuZAoW_Vf_0EhQYUM4Uuiioxl6IZUs/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknRXnfwyE2tA-CunBeWXIsADWq8drqyMFz3khStw3AAyrWgvTptgLtoyvAdgU3DNEEdxpYCfs7hOq7ThQ1iuu676cHnc9yLHoD2lv3H3szTYokLuZAoW_Vf_0EhQYUM4Uuiioxl6IZUs/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The clouds have all lifted and we had a clear view from the jagged crown of Mount Kinabalu.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAYJ-mJEYagcTdKVwIKU5yUP9U-QSxkLZCPpojmZNPOvtyBKT15CkOXFPlDXk6_wvrZR4EPwf4XMnSam_N0qj8XsXCHg5QaqrQVo5IhCh_UBdwNkaS_twsXVIpT2deb53k2QdHASp4K4/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAYJ-mJEYagcTdKVwIKU5yUP9U-QSxkLZCPpojmZNPOvtyBKT15CkOXFPlDXk6_wvrZR4EPwf4XMnSam_N0qj8XsXCHg5QaqrQVo5IhCh_UBdwNkaS_twsXVIpT2deb53k2QdHASp4K4/s1600/Mount-Kinabalu-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me and my legs of still making more memories with the mountain I might one day find the balls to climb.</span></td></tr>
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After hearing so much about Mount Kinabalu, it was uplifting to finally step into its radius of magnificence. I remembered that when I first got a proper view of the mountain at Pekan Nabalu, a breath escaped me with "Wow, it's impressive."<br />
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The thought of ascending it flashed across my mind. Physically, with some training, I could steel up my stamina and pair of walkers to cover the trek, but thinking about the peril of the 300m Death Stretch, my insides liquefy.<br />
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Perhaps one day I will conquer the mountain within and make it to that top. For now, I'm happy to just smile and strike a pose. From a distance.<br />
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<b>Related Post:</b><br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/09/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-supersized.html" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.com/2018/09/kota-kinabalu-east-malaysia-supersized.html" target="_blank">Supersized Nature at Kinabalu Park</a>Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-56031234073581896352018-09-17T02:33:00.001+08:002018-09-17T23:11:33.980+08:00Kota Kinabalu (East Malaysia) - Supersized Nature at Kinabalu Park<b>Date of Exploration:</b> 11 August 2018<br />
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The island of Borneo is home to some of the most bewildering giants of the botanical world and a visit to Kinabalu Park in Kota Kinabalu (Sabah, East Malaysia) is a best bet to meet with these rare, endangered and supersized creations of nature.<br />
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I visited Kinabalu Park as part of a guided day tour and my inner tree-hugger went all eager beaver at the possibility of sighting the endemic floral giants that are found nowhere else on earth!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0fGCwms68JvuL96toh_bOadGt4_pbGuoxy7gWtzrnA0O5NPcmJzhP-ChuZWfCeaYHq1cFWGKLYe6a7DADRlH8YU5UE0ZVBgZ8lHInXks6LiEERTQoqZ3LFmNIaIvC56rFIH4l-8QfMQ/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Palm leaves under sunshine in Kinabalu Park" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0fGCwms68JvuL96toh_bOadGt4_pbGuoxy7gWtzrnA0O5NPcmJzhP-ChuZWfCeaYHq1cFWGKLYe6a7DADRlH8YU5UE0ZVBgZ8lHInXks6LiEERTQoqZ3LFmNIaIvC56rFIH4l-8QfMQ/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-00.jpg" title="Hunt for the Floral Giants of Kinabalu Park" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kinabalu Park is reputably <i>THE</i> place to see the world's largest lady slipper orchid, pitcher plant, terrestrial flower and giant insects. With some luck of course.</span></td></tr>
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Sprawling over 740 square kilometers, Kinabalu Park is bigger than the size of Singapore (which measures 710 square kilometers at present)! Its vast geology spans the lowlands to the highlands, creating various distinctive habitats including swamp forest, tropical rainforest, hill forest, montane forest, sub-alpine forest and alpine meadow.<br />
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At an elevation of 1,500m above sea level, Kinabalu Park contains the prime conditions for a tropical montane forest to thrive with lush undergrowth and coniferous canopy. The cool middle forestry zone with a tropical climate is very attractive for the proliferation of plant life, which is why the estimation of the number of plants species found at Kinabalu Park counts at a mind-blowing 6,000! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewosSyfcKDYepp7fESPF05rFoYg8bnpLiSUdlG5mCgGxR8TxgGlUz5Ne7CU93CL6GmuMhCjoUO0wa74heXjKArhWZOBXi8ygwRaBwQEtDPkyRUtMeH9HSMKdmO84hqaDuPNtFXrCT0Dw/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kinabalu Park entrance" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewosSyfcKDYepp7fESPF05rFoYg8bnpLiSUdlG5mCgGxR8TxgGlUz5Ne7CU93CL6GmuMhCjoUO0wa74heXjKArhWZOBXi8ygwRaBwQEtDPkyRUtMeH9HSMKdmO84hqaDuPNtFXrCT0Dw/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-02.jpg" title="Kota Kinabalu Park" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A trip to Kota Kinabalu would not be complete without a visit to Kinabalu Park to enjoy its green gifts.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>GETTING TO KINABALU PARK</b></span><br />
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The park is located about a 2-hour drive from downtown Kota Kinabalu (KK) where most hotels are. Getting here via public transport can be quite a challenge to navigate for visitors, so it is better to visit the park in the following ways:<br />
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<b>1. Join a Packaged Land Tour</b> - there are numerous land tour operators that you can book from in downtown Kota Kinabalu or your hotel. The tour usually lasts 8 hours and takes you to various attractions with Kinabalu Park being one of them.<br />
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<b>2. Get a Private Tour</b> - you can also book a car or van with a driver and guide to take you around privately so that you can explore at your own pace. A comprehensive 8-hour day trip itinerary could cover Tamparuli Suspension Bridge, Pekan Nabalu, Kinabalu Park, Desa Dairy Farm and Poring Hot Spring. Grab is available in KK so you can also book a Grab and negotiate a price for a day trip. But the thing with Grab drivers is that they may not be effective tour guides or know their way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0Rd0umiMkwu6QNmBTKxILw_JCmALP2FCHllxz12N9BRXj4OFHq1nUCKVHRcm8PrbLxhsuQh5UTHwBLk6zThKlNIrddhT008-7C7JLBVZC9-4MY7fKSMjnGH9Inx5XOExy0I6U4z1fwM/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0Rd0umiMkwu6QNmBTKxILw_JCmALP2FCHllxz12N9BRXj4OFHq1nUCKVHRcm8PrbLxhsuQh5UTHwBLk6zThKlNIrddhT008-7C7JLBVZC9-4MY7fKSMjnGH9Inx5XOExy0I6U4z1fwM/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kinabalu Park is veined with several roads and hiking trails. Most packaged tours would just take you to the Botanical Garden in the park, let you have a short stroll and leave for the next attraction. If budget and time allow, opt for a private guided tour instead so that you get to spend more time at the park and trek the Silau-Silau Trail. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kinabalu Park's Botanical Garden</b></span><br />
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The Instagram way to appreciate Kinabalu Park is its Botanical Garden, where a curation of the locale's unique flora species provides an opportunity to meet the botanical residents without leaving a sighting to chance. However, depending on the season, you may or may not see them in their full glory.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm8LcRCMB5gdjIQxVitkDoTFPZDGwI1s6AxICKV236IRvdWEIs6yPoeLEgKrEezQv0JuuG0giEHl2kK1pStm74Rna4SyLvBt_NLyvmE3byaRPbxvo2Re8IYBvE6qom4yMTqKyyfQ3t3A/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kinabalu Park, Botanical Garden" border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm8LcRCMB5gdjIQxVitkDoTFPZDGwI1s6AxICKV236IRvdWEIs6yPoeLEgKrEezQv0JuuG0giEHl2kK1pStm74Rna4SyLvBt_NLyvmE3byaRPbxvo2Re8IYBvE6qom4yMTqKyyfQ3t3A/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-03.jpg" title="Entrance to Kinabalu Park Botanical Garden" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From a carpark where we were dropped off, it's a short walk to the entrance of Kinabalu Park Botanical Garden. An entry fee of RM5.00 is charged for foreigners.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKdfTKj1zg2-bq72HGTBh4O65KQaAFNFlSu_SHEZdK8dENxq5ygPlhj7ng8Rbdj1IsR3kmC27G3Ny1RgM49ysX02L1fZGgaTxWlgFcRqb9FU4zxIz3wnVzOdP5CfgY0zLo5gSLsDHQJs/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKdfTKj1zg2-bq72HGTBh4O65KQaAFNFlSu_SHEZdK8dENxq5ygPlhj7ng8Rbdj1IsR3kmC27G3Ny1RgM49ysX02L1fZGgaTxWlgFcRqb9FU4zxIz3wnVzOdP5CfgY0zLo5gSLsDHQJs/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Landscaping at the Botanical Garden is pretty light. Except for a few open air nurseries, paved walkways and bridges, everything else is left untouched and rustic. When you come to a spider-webbed 'tent' like this, pay close attention to the plants in it as it serves as a living gallery of the forest's gems.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C0i_lhaz-vFolUzaAthGP87e_qLp4crX1uKkwIy2t9XXdEBqu1_O_WoCQO5WcX-WyKxvgPfdb1iMMMHP71UnwVI4YNKiUPRniO2gi0iLyFXAellhjc_acDkAy-fdmJVHcenfa5ADpME/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Medinilla Magnifica, Rose Grape, Malaysian Orchid, Pink Lantern, Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C0i_lhaz-vFolUzaAthGP87e_qLp4crX1uKkwIy2t9XXdEBqu1_O_WoCQO5WcX-WyKxvgPfdb1iMMMHP71UnwVI4YNKiUPRniO2gi0iLyFXAellhjc_acDkAy-fdmJVHcenfa5ADpME/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-05.jpg" title="Medinilla Magnifica" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A plant that greeted my visit with plenty was the Medinilla Magnifica, also known as Pink Lantern, Malaysian Orchid, Chandelier Plant, and Rose Grape. The little fruits, when ripe, turn purplish and can be eaten. I didn't try but I was told it tastes sour. So I guess this is what sour grapes look like. LOL.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFJxIjpUcaPxCcBIvk1rfTPXC666abGNfc-gu4QA2ZSOfkXiwC3hyphenhyphenDWdKM6GLq0TGDh2OeETLNXAYEfDsuzhpvdf_BlZuWvj6tYKQv7qd_Bw_E_5t7aFiSXMSjhEC2omhp7OV5SAVNLA/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Medinilla Magnifica, Rose Grape, Malaysian orchid, Pink Lantern, Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFJxIjpUcaPxCcBIvk1rfTPXC666abGNfc-gu4QA2ZSOfkXiwC3hyphenhyphenDWdKM6GLq0TGDh2OeETLNXAYEfDsuzhpvdf_BlZuWvj6tYKQv7qd_Bw_E_5t7aFiSXMSjhEC2omhp7OV5SAVNLA/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-06.jpg" title="Medinilla Magnifica" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A flower of the Medinilla Magnifica in bloom.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7OAY4HCsOqCA22mopLSCOnvZBlUWYVM4wVdhYBV_xqQj2l9xLqntk6bT1OZrtkdsjnGY3zO8ps7zs9jQd9Dyv8Wdn_Dd-V5cwrlqIe_HogTi76x0bCXs3N7bgdqNYWX4PdLZSVjKKfw/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7OAY4HCsOqCA22mopLSCOnvZBlUWYVM4wVdhYBV_xqQj2l9xLqntk6bT1OZrtkdsjnGY3zO8ps7zs9jQd9Dyv8Wdn_Dd-V5cwrlqIe_HogTi76x0bCXs3N7bgdqNYWX4PdLZSVjKKfw/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An unfurling fern and orchid spray in blossom. Different flowering plants come into bloom at varying conditions of the year.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSiGEzCWq4FyVd7mvd8sx73nkwGzry4m8YqIJNqUdxY6KqIqxjmO4BJCaIYKltzccl8eyv8A0TBOvANY3PfGiaMhqwjdT70FCW8xQKvbPaDSm_-Re7m24vVwoAJFtlHjGmYHoEKRTojw/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSiGEzCWq4FyVd7mvd8sx73nkwGzry4m8YqIJNqUdxY6KqIqxjmO4BJCaIYKltzccl8eyv8A0TBOvANY3PfGiaMhqwjdT70FCW8xQKvbPaDSm_-Re7m24vVwoAJFtlHjGmYHoEKRTojw/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This spray is like a march of little orchids. It is estimated that over 1,000 species of orchids reside at the park.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZkAMaEcEJkHWflMNv6EaisCUssvScwG8fOMiLGU5p0skDn8cWrx3hQZI72PWrINM_fuGy7akccxfu4X05SjpLq4YHLzflDh6AEXWn-CgxXKNIMJPI-6vPAuzZaHrY9synfBASI1Rt4s/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZkAMaEcEJkHWflMNv6EaisCUssvScwG8fOMiLGU5p0skDn8cWrx3hQZI72PWrINM_fuGy7akccxfu4X05SjpLq4YHLzflDh6AEXWn-CgxXKNIMJPI-6vPAuzZaHrY9synfBASI1Rt4s/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The minuscule thing on the top left hand corner is actually a tiny orchid! So lucky to see the last one before it withers.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtWsfwVTII-RgxbEKliO9w_om79nPC_JdOo47_3B8tDxtV_SuCNHPdWpaunbdrVk7wumbDk5GsoQEzIpj7ag2AC269mf18-GJe4GNiCnlhmXAvNJCuQFVxsj9fJ-XsKn-4VYZQx3fldk/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtWsfwVTII-RgxbEKliO9w_om79nPC_JdOo47_3B8tDxtV_SuCNHPdWpaunbdrVk7wumbDk5GsoQEzIpj7ag2AC269mf18-GJe4GNiCnlhmXAvNJCuQFVxsj9fJ-XsKn-4VYZQx3fldk/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Open stomach... Asia is home to around 240 species of carnivorous pitcher plants and 10% can be found at Kinabalu Park. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT-7IZH_ZIhbpTXtDa7HSztbRhIcAeIcWES9NXJ1WhN4cXRUyJtyHzyiq2MIF8YUM5MMN7Hrz_8ibhS8424RWkN82n93XFd760q3-NGr5GURZsXXkiMJ1NxkAgM2TKNQjWgmIARaG5dU/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lightning Blue Damselfly" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT-7IZH_ZIhbpTXtDa7HSztbRhIcAeIcWES9NXJ1WhN4cXRUyJtyHzyiq2MIF8YUM5MMN7Hrz_8ibhS8424RWkN82n93XFd760q3-NGr5GURZsXXkiMJ1NxkAgM2TKNQjWgmIARaG5dU/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-07.jpg" title="Damselfly" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spotted a lightning blue damselfly. As it flies, it looks like a hovering needle.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNGddd6nAcyvFU1q8Q45eYzis4m8yaNTTUNB5tNnnq8g2L9dczBH8yj9860frpc8Izubxg6AQa7h575bTcyQtJzhPrZMVAJb9tt6wEku0_Xbx26JVomlvmVniXDEbgrVHcHJ15jxEMO8/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNGddd6nAcyvFU1q8Q45eYzis4m8yaNTTUNB5tNnnq8g2L9dczBH8yj9860frpc8Izubxg6AQa7h575bTcyQtJzhPrZMVAJb9tt6wEku0_Xbx26JVomlvmVniXDEbgrVHcHJ15jxEMO8/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No idea what fly this is but it's HUGE! I shot this with a compact camera, didn't even need a DSLR with macro lens to see the nightmarish details!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JvgtLtXIaWKXfcdB_H_Ec62NxqYR2JN4xvea_I_wILrCUcoQQClCJW1EW7yfU0V5K3Zdub1Su7T3DnZ_b6zOonkdhayHH6jZ_DbF2TPAwbgV7h11FxH-e4IHS52nuinmseka4hlm2Yc/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JvgtLtXIaWKXfcdB_H_Ec62NxqYR2JN4xvea_I_wILrCUcoQQClCJW1EW7yfU0V5K3Zdub1Su7T3DnZ_b6zOonkdhayHH6jZ_DbF2TPAwbgV7h11FxH-e4IHS52nuinmseka4hlm2Yc/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My mission at Kinabalu Park was to hunt down the 3 native floral giants - the largest lady slipper orchid - <b>Rothschild's Orchid</b>; the largest pitcher plant - <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><b>Nepenthes Rajah</b>; and the largest flower - </span></span><b>Rafflesia arnoldii</b><i>.</i> I was hoping to see them in the wild so I was surprised to meet 2 of these giants, unceremoniously, behind a fence. That's not me but one of the nicest and wittiest persons I've travelled with. <i><br /></i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJqaMQM1DKwbvVjdOIo7OIVilq0Wso4KSrYpzYJO6cz5jEf3WW0EtImysc4uO0tOHzImRLkloZSL5f4pI3pPrKPhd1olauKGlzCqFafw0S3Cqp61FR86bNi5-OA6Peun8qTd8z4g5l1o/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJqaMQM1DKwbvVjdOIo7OIVilq0Wso4KSrYpzYJO6cz5jEf3WW0EtImysc4uO0tOHzImRLkloZSL5f4pI3pPrKPhd1olauKGlzCqFafw0S3Cqp61FR86bNi5-OA6Peun8qTd8z4g5l1o/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's good reason why these plants are behind fences. They are extremely rare in the wild and a sighting is almost always not guaranteed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJf4YDQ2oHhgCs-dUCqR_d1Oz6IZt1fkVjc2ghi7K0VUBjhwVCqUzQt3cQvzT8Yb1R7xEKhq7couuCzVkCSI4S9f5Jb8sytH1zkzr6JsEGqTT0X0-sbqp-_r7hzYYMZEwpVgKriIY5XH4/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rothschild's Orchid, Lady Slipper Orchid" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJf4YDQ2oHhgCs-dUCqR_d1Oz6IZt1fkVjc2ghi7K0VUBjhwVCqUzQt3cQvzT8Yb1R7xEKhq7couuCzVkCSI4S9f5Jb8sytH1zkzr6JsEGqTT0X0-sbqp-_r7hzYYMZEwpVgKriIY5XH4/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-17.jpg" title="Rothischild's Orchid" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cultivating these rare slipper orchids allows visitors to see them. I am lucky to come at a time that they are in full bloom.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOij342VPya5xqLGRQoKMxyzSWlA3MdCyOhsuh78yAUO_oz9VMxX766Tr3gZscPAymp9CvzX9m4AbcC4GIS8qlodJEQGBEgk43YjUrFG9YUbXxwLiy9B9r7YupG7whyU5nE45yCmZBCw/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rothschild's Orchid, Lady Slipper Orchid, Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOij342VPya5xqLGRQoKMxyzSWlA3MdCyOhsuh78yAUO_oz9VMxX766Tr3gZscPAymp9CvzX9m4AbcC4GIS8qlodJEQGBEgk43YjUrFG9YUbXxwLiy9B9r7YupG7whyU5nE45yCmZBCw/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-16.jpg" title="Rothschild's Orchid" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not only is the Rothschild's Orchid the biggest in the genus of lady slipper orchids (the flower stalk can grow up to 1m in height), it is also the most expensive. A plant can cost up to RM30,000 in the black market! Why is it so expensive? First of all, it is rare as it needs very specific conditions to grow. Secondly, it could take up to 15 years for a flower to bloom. Because of its price, it is also called the "Gold of Kinabalu".</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBk73dWDs9K2y5x3-8kFUlHofHvOizHaZ0jVOyKrJjpzqiD0ubqgNy-A2hyphenhyphenvIP1HLOdmG42xo0F3-y-GGezh6zisd8pcZWynbsn6uCc8vzyGfNghsu6_QzJzO74DT46-TNmpeVCAfqfM/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nepenthes Rajah, Pitcher Plant, Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBk73dWDs9K2y5x3-8kFUlHofHvOizHaZ0jVOyKrJjpzqiD0ubqgNy-A2hyphenhyphenvIP1HLOdmG42xo0F3-y-GGezh6zisd8pcZWynbsn6uCc8vzyGfNghsu6_QzJzO74DT46-TNmpeVCAfqfM/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-14.jpg" title="Nepenthes Rajah Pitcher Plant" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The other giant is this... the largest carnivorous pitcher plant species in the world. Its pod can grow up to a whopping 40cm in height and 21cm in diameter!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK5h6wXxpBT87VtNz_36jf8vpBpvXweHHpAt1nwexud6oBeR4s5RjRk6r0UdnyAump1dldKDc58bpJRsuxtTEidlNJSc4Wk26oHC3AnerxY-G8sU_VR-8vtsZvVI31sUmRzxHpM4XrH4/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nepenthes Rajah, Pitcher Plant, Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK5h6wXxpBT87VtNz_36jf8vpBpvXweHHpAt1nwexud6oBeR4s5RjRk6r0UdnyAump1dldKDc58bpJRsuxtTEidlNJSc4Wk26oHC3AnerxY-G8sU_VR-8vtsZvVI31sUmRzxHpM4XrH4/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-15.jpg" title="Nepenthes Raja is the Biggest Pitcher Plant in the World" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Called </span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span style="font-size: small;">Nepenthes Rajah, its biggest cup is capable of holding 4 litres of digestive fluid. It has been found to drown and 'eat' a rat and small mammals. A savage plant devouring animals... <i>Yikes!</i></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The third flora giant is the Rafflesia flower but we weren't in luck to meet one. <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Growing up to 1m in diameter, the endangered parasitic floral species is the largest flower on earth and again, striking 4D is easier than seeing one. <br /> <br />
The bloom lasts only 2 to 5 days before it starts to decompose and the
flower cannot be transplanted or artificially cultivated so sightings
depends a lot on the cosmos being on your side. Hopefully I'll get to see and smell its famed rotting corpse stench one day.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYf-rNVaZRa693N2RiMWFae06wY3Pa6GWfJeWL_od8OIcwWoxlyk8oevuKawCnSdjkeKHGL2uCNDPdyisnmp3IqB-tbtfLQjukFKnKq4zds7m6E0-Q9UsBt5dBMU6ftXjXsPrHicPT8w/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYf-rNVaZRa693N2RiMWFae06wY3Pa6GWfJeWL_od8OIcwWoxlyk8oevuKawCnSdjkeKHGL2uCNDPdyisnmp3IqB-tbtfLQjukFKnKq4zds7m6E0-Q9UsBt5dBMU6ftXjXsPrHicPT8w/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-22.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Go beyond Kinabalu Park's Botanical Garden and into the tropical wilderness to experience the tranquility of nature.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a rather underwhelming experience of meeting the floral giants from afar, we went on the Silau-Silau Trail for some light trekking. Because of the park's cooler temperatures in the mid-twenties range, it is very comfortable for walking.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD10XSxGEI8DVphZ_xT-zEVshT0ra1XGpkS7ZYSeUj9JGpzyet_m9rFN2zGRjVJdcesZ93D1IY2gLrj5pRrrymRg834rTTEKPE0Z9l6VuOZcBGC_2_J0aBOWFMl6sDYuZ4JIvHgS8bgX4/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD10XSxGEI8DVphZ_xT-zEVshT0ra1XGpkS7ZYSeUj9JGpzyet_m9rFN2zGRjVJdcesZ93D1IY2gLrj5pRrrymRg834rTTEKPE0Z9l6VuOZcBGC_2_J0aBOWFMl6sDYuZ4JIvHgS8bgX4/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-19.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Silau" apparently means "glare" or "spotlight". So I guess the trail is placing the best experience of Kota Kinabalu's natural gifts on a pedestal with this trek/hike.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrEjv7_kxDNhqjEwAmsgeeUzqtd5SlpueiRaru8fAIdj8CCluv3ZstPJf9PLONCLDYLRBGyrXdGjzp6g9u39stPzkVqD1h3SYadfj1BKFfMozPifzJxKkGNTgO2XxyaRVroxR9oP8Br8/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrEjv7_kxDNhqjEwAmsgeeUzqtd5SlpueiRaru8fAIdj8CCluv3ZstPJf9PLONCLDYLRBGyrXdGjzp6g9u39stPzkVqD1h3SYadfj1BKFfMozPifzJxKkGNTgO2XxyaRVroxR9oP8Br8/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-20.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Silau-Silau Trail is a relatively easy trek with a built path.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ToHeCdI3ZKIVt5-JfaDP_U8yWho4tYudfoL6nkCC0KT0fHxYO0CdyX7w7xUNJlstJRhgVd9p8QzLNpQ4-MnA6sOCn6WfHFGoe_Fp9ThxuxOkEVcUhoEas_Ef91FoRHyf0d-COCS6GZk/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ToHeCdI3ZKIVt5-JfaDP_U8yWho4tYudfoL6nkCC0KT0fHxYO0CdyX7w7xUNJlstJRhgVd9p8QzLNpQ4-MnA6sOCn6WfHFGoe_Fp9ThxuxOkEVcUhoEas_Ef91FoRHyf0d-COCS6GZk/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-23.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then it gets a little tough with quite some steps climbing while passing through gushing creeks...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkziepXfKVKglxkAEZcjDygtEnrHO7isJzCZ4_Pj3J8gRjeXPTCUidqZBzwqHBg471m9LQx4ymmTsycsn8FW6SFTsjvl02thHouN1RfV3_62seTfwyt5Wqkt1FcagSbA8grCZHdT9fe_4/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkziepXfKVKglxkAEZcjDygtEnrHO7isJzCZ4_Pj3J8gRjeXPTCUidqZBzwqHBg471m9LQx4ymmTsycsn8FW6SFTsjvl02thHouN1RfV3_62seTfwyt5Wqkt1FcagSbA8grCZHdT9fe_4/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-28.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... and navigating some parts where the path has been reclaimed by nature. But overall, the trail can be completed by anyone with no major mobility issues.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeLlQW1us33oj_iAaqgeYDlk1fKfpu1BV9iqhyphenhyphenj1tOmkxyPRTp2uPmvwdKTR0wqi_2dRFoNJiTF9IQcu59ff2EqmEqu84X2N6Ir-7QXFJyXfsvFh-MbA0lFQE3ikgCU4Sr-YuSSxp9Hc/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeLlQW1us33oj_iAaqgeYDlk1fKfpu1BV9iqhyphenhyphenj1tOmkxyPRTp2uPmvwdKTR0wqi_2dRFoNJiTF9IQcu59ff2EqmEqu84X2N6Ir-7QXFJyXfsvFh-MbA0lFQE3ikgCU4Sr-YuSSxp9Hc/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-21.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Our
guide Yamin (who insists I call him "Young Man") gave us a crash course
on the significance and traditional usage of some of the plants by the
local tribes during our trek.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4szBJ-m3Cd9YYmRvRnIfc6hAMQXvxz79A_15ALKdTVfcx0olCjrkkMhba0ajSJWz0WNJWmNxfkoTc16EMQ0N0GqhAocU5cTHT35YKatRIkn6ixs6SvsFqX41vAh4XYYLyZpXcPb2upk/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4szBJ-m3Cd9YYmRvRnIfc6hAMQXvxz79A_15ALKdTVfcx0olCjrkkMhba0ajSJWz0WNJWmNxfkoTc16EMQ0N0GqhAocU5cTHT35YKatRIkn6ixs6SvsFqX41vAh4XYYLyZpXcPb2upk/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-25.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">This is the bamboo species used to make blow pipes for hunting by the local forest tribes. I'm
surprised by how smooth it is with almost no leaf </span></span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm2U-qtytK0_UBJgM9QqfAPVvHtEl1w8_tlBuyVjGyjsBFmBQEi8VlimROlPOyTn_GM7qi7kp_BNBkwHztVd8fHY4U2juRwtRnOzaymJOP2bZaBYUzlnV3iVWfnP0KTtKu_WQPZhLXp8/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm2U-qtytK0_UBJgM9QqfAPVvHtEl1w8_tlBuyVjGyjsBFmBQEi8VlimROlPOyTn_GM7qi7kp_BNBkwHztVd8fHY4U2juRwtRnOzaymJOP2bZaBYUzlnV3iVWfnP0KTtKu_WQPZhLXp8/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-24.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thorns and spikes we came across during the trek. Mother Nature knows S&M.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwcnyHTtA6qWV-VTYG4bqywUxbWdTiUVyKn57D0Hj3Ohf1As9X2aEZy99HDF09QwGEOlM8_4P7_MvB-4gmvHjF0oCMjTaov1y2hbQL8ZQouTiOzixMaqHvTVashPbCegh0Cf9HnzOA7k/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwcnyHTtA6qWV-VTYG4bqywUxbWdTiUVyKn57D0Hj3Ohf1As9X2aEZy99HDF09QwGEOlM8_4P7_MvB-4gmvHjF0oCMjTaov1y2hbQL8ZQouTiOzixMaqHvTVashPbCegh0Cf9HnzOA7k/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-29.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look up and look down during the trek to be in awe of the majesty of aged woods as well as the silent struggle for life happening below.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS_3XyYuPPp8unUah-9OLz9Imnqv-dvV48kWLx4YRju-QocwX_GYldK_z-dSv9sv7uPGISlPFdBmwlh648zC8DRZFIwIF6KtXRe6RaOvqrHRaFgkfi-W2fs9boxVSZlxHrPNn-T3XF_I/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS_3XyYuPPp8unUah-9OLz9Imnqv-dvV48kWLx4YRju-QocwX_GYldK_z-dSv9sv7uPGISlPFdBmwlh648zC8DRZFIwIF6KtXRe6RaOvqrHRaFgkfi-W2fs9boxVSZlxHrPNn-T3XF_I/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-26.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The botanical version of a zombie... it is dead yet alive. Some people are like that too.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfznNF8WWHN-8Trx_Uk0dlRs0FtqtNUgPvKvdNS18r4WpF7n5YK4U7wxs4EJVTYQWjmDSmiePpJoQjuMJmZ2e8JDQWC8GgnaTJcFNwp3WaOZu3Rr6ClvJuUlBotVsuq2IXVflH4bb3QSI/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfznNF8WWHN-8Trx_Uk0dlRs0FtqtNUgPvKvdNS18r4WpF7n5YK4U7wxs4EJVTYQWjmDSmiePpJoQjuMJmZ2e8JDQWC8GgnaTJcFNwp3WaOZu3Rr6ClvJuUlBotVsuq2IXVflH4bb3QSI/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-27.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nature imitating nature... spotted an obscure plant with leaves that look like a green butterfly! Amazing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aOsWcDZCuuZ9Sjw7o5fek8t8jKtRH-HLLY9kOSNkeX6rzzDZUUJmw7tYeUc0K6v7LMpYxNs1988U5Wxu4d6V5aZGdNicsQ9MGUal5Uqr7fPN0dJEJ8m9RcZj4ofh7J-ywTB48tmBDCs/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aOsWcDZCuuZ9Sjw7o5fek8t8jKtRH-HLLY9kOSNkeX6rzzDZUUJmw7tYeUc0K6v7LMpYxNs1988U5Wxu4d6V5aZGdNicsQ9MGUal5Uqr7fPN0dJEJ8m9RcZj4ofh7J-ywTB48tmBDCs/s1600/Kota-Kinabalu-Park-30.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I survived the Silau-Silau Trail! Which took about 30 minutes to complete starting from the Botanical Garden. It is an easy trail and at the end of it, there's a restaurant nearby to fuel and freshen up. And yes, cover up for a trek to avoid insect bites and cuts from plants. It's cool at the park anyway so playing dress up won't hurt.</span></td></tr>
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It was a brief centering with nature at Kinabalu Park for me. But it was an encounter to remember as I got face-time with the giants of several flora families as well as other interesting plants. Plus I got to step foot on the ancient rainforest terrains and work out my glutes.<br />
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I came out rejuvenated.<br />
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<i>This post has been made possible by <a href="https://www.malindoair.com/" target="_blank">Malindo Air</a>, which flies daily from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu, and <a href="http://www.sabahtourism.com/" target="_blank">Sabah Tourism</a>. </i>Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-70181800002755324942018-03-28T02:27:00.000+08:002018-03-28T02:27:13.597+08:00Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) - Get on the Shoo-Shoo Train at Sentul Park<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 15 Jan 2017<br />
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Continuing my hunt for off-the-beaten-track things to do in Kuala Lumpur, I stumbled upon Sentul Park and decided to follow the recommendations of some blogs to come here for a photo shoot. It is very Instagram-worthy. They say. And having made it here, I totally concur.<br />
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Except.<br />
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They failed to mention that <b>PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT WELCOMED</b> in the park! That's because Sentul Park is owned privately by YTL Corporation Berhad to serve its gated community of condominium residents. However, the public is allowed to enter Sentul Park because the park is also home to the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC). A privately-owned residential development housing a public entity, that's like wearing your underwear on the outside... it is something private, yet the whole world is invited to see.<br />
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But no pictures please.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3SggPLBGchdyUdTe8GWU4afAe-6mZoIvqA_aCzjOVkZgFnkzfN53-UAqxAD6zSbNgZUjsNuW7ytWeUgFMg73ydDFgKBF-sqxFD7zFmWuvYxcyMwlGoWyNhnxBdd1GjLR-hUe3P8H1JY/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3SggPLBGchdyUdTe8GWU4afAe-6mZoIvqA_aCzjOVkZgFnkzfN53-UAqxAD6zSbNgZUjsNuW7ytWeUgFMg73ydDFgKBF-sqxFD7zFmWuvYxcyMwlGoWyNhnxBdd1GjLR-hUe3P8H1JY/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A tranquil oasis located slightly off the grid of Kuala Lumpur's choking urbanity, Sentul Park is in a little world of its own.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Getting to Sentul Park</b></span><br />
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If I knew that Sentul Park does not welcome photography, I wouldn't have
made the trip. Thankfully, getting here wasn't too much trouble as it is
just a 15-minute cab ride from the famous Bukit Bintang district (where
our hotel is located). <br />
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Sentul Park can be reached from the park's West entrance, which is accessible via Jalan Strachan. Jalan Strachan is located off Jalan Ipoh (which is parallel to Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah). This directional information is important if you're planning a visit because this place is tourist-unfriendly so not many taxi drivers know how to get here.<br />
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We had to direct our driver using Google Map to get to Sentul Park (West entrance) as he had no idea where the park is. If you come from Bukit Bintang, you will hit Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah. At a junction that joins Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah to Jalan Ipoh, make a U-turn to Jalan Ipoh and you'll come to an off road marked Jalan Strachan, which is the West entrance of Sentul Park / KLPAC.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d3983.6657802554446!2d101.68406322317536!3d3.1823219986975006!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e0!4m5!1s0x31cc362a03072dd9%3A0xbf9fbb5bcb09de83!2sBukit+Bintang%2C+Kuala+Lumpur%2C+Federal+Territory+of+Kuala+Lumpur%2C+Malaysia!3m2!1d3.1467855!2d101.7113043!4m5!1s0x31cc480b7f2424f1%3A0x6c793ca11bc61b25!2sSentul+Park%2C+Sentul%2C+51100+Kuala+Lumpur%2C+Federal+Territory+of+Kuala+Lumpur%2C+Malaysia!3m2!1d3.1862882!2d101.6867515!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ssg!4v1488128523975" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe>
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If you have local data SIM card, simply use Google Map and search for "<a href="https://www.google.com.sg/maps/dir/Bukit+Bintang,+Kuala+Lumpur,+Federal+Territory+of+Kuala+Lumpur,+Malaysia/Sentul+Park,+Sentul,+51100+Kuala+Lumpur,+Federal+Territory+of+Kuala+Lumpur,+Malaysia/@3.182322,101.6840632,17z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x31cc362a03072dd9:0xbf9fbb5bcb09de83!2m2!1d101.7113043!2d3.1467855!1m5!1m1!1s0x31cc480b7f2424f1:0x6c793ca11bc61b25!2m2!1d101.6867515!2d3.1862882!3e0" target="_blank">Bukit Bintang to Sentul Park</a>". Then show the directions to the cab driver.<br />
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Getting out from Sentul Park can also be a problem as cabs don't casually drive in. To get a ride out, ask the ticketing personnel to help you call for a cab or dial the number listed at the counter if you have a local SIM card to get a cab. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Remnants of an Old Train Depot </b></span><br />
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As we drove passed the security sentry that guarded entry into KLPAC / Sentul Park and further down Jalan Strachan, we were greeted by a stately construct of red bricks that has gone beautifully neglected...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwBxp4LvZveHGXovEaQmZ9yYHof94NeepY2zJh7lQ353S9Co9wjAPDXnApz0PU31xM7oPgJuvQ4GsVGqJxS034jt8mCZBQryWXL-gXN_dfzK4o38AIdHoVb7a-ycUL2g_ur3_p80mHQQ/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwBxp4LvZveHGXovEaQmZ9yYHof94NeepY2zJh7lQ353S9Co9wjAPDXnApz0PU31xM7oPgJuvQ4GsVGqJxS034jt8mCZBQryWXL-gXN_dfzK4o38AIdHoVb7a-ycUL2g_ur3_p80mHQQ/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No idea what this concrete shell used to be, probably a bygone administrative building, but it is enchanting.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvvUHanYzg1vsQEompO4YaURp0FBt5pcU8CDAfd_K7qUtdkIAECMy8FG4Fnoi78Y-jruwx29CSJPgobC6pObLIxbPX9g2La2PRiO6iAiQfSXChZED08nE7OoxWmjOraimU3o801hlxB0/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvvUHanYzg1vsQEompO4YaURp0FBt5pcU8CDAfd_K7qUtdkIAECMy8FG4Fnoi78Y-jruwx29CSJPgobC6pObLIxbPX9g2La2PRiO6iAiQfSXChZED08nE7OoxWmjOraimU3o801hlxB0/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The skeleton that time left behind. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnRRrH8WrOEKpZosL60Eg9bJh8dUWmCcOrCUtwTlvBKqFANmTL6UW1WN37BQw4vE353bD1t08k7dhkg6hWSPErNJE_7lTTtp2j4uRVyrGrkcRLO__x6YKv418mUAz09OtHA_wgqo_6LE/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnRRrH8WrOEKpZosL60Eg9bJh8dUWmCcOrCUtwTlvBKqFANmTL6UW1WN37BQw4vE353bD1t08k7dhkg6hWSPErNJE_7lTTtp2j4uRVyrGrkcRLO__x6YKv418mUAz09OtHA_wgqo_6LE/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The empty arched hallways create an atmospheric setting that pleases the lens.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rjLUEfHEd3ESs3gNL_Sg-3_mDmvRbG211AB_U3INhv-iBM4ZxCYqwlG-qgBQ5rb8Vor1IYJbq09Uhi99cbr2ChxiaqD9Rbh1HOWpyKsFGTe90QFu8mu_8dgLfsMic9uNYmmcF7gx2g8/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rjLUEfHEd3ESs3gNL_Sg-3_mDmvRbG211AB_U3INhv-iBM4ZxCYqwlG-qgBQ5rb8Vor1IYJbq09Uhi99cbr2ChxiaqD9Rbh1HOWpyKsFGTe90QFu8mu_8dgLfsMic9uNYmmcF7gx2g8/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-05.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BE-bpwZjtUfJYEEVCzeYe_YuL1Au1iUWbrBi7r0mboOA1a7ncrxiQ5pzGiqAEZdhuJyg-SDRyP2_kRq9h1lc7PRs8ZnjbC_eH0EaoZS3cQAqhRse-OPrq_DIMEv1e6qxsQQGvdOfeU0/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BE-bpwZjtUfJYEEVCzeYe_YuL1Au1iUWbrBi7r0mboOA1a7ncrxiQ5pzGiqAEZdhuJyg-SDRyP2_kRq9h1lc7PRs8ZnjbC_eH0EaoZS3cQAqhRse-OPrq_DIMEv1e6qxsQQGvdOfeU0/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before long, a security guard hollered at us to stop taking photos and shooed us away. He's probably concerned for our safety as ruins can harbour hidden dangers.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lines & Circles</b></span><br />
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Moving along, we followed a path that led towards the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre and Sentual Park. The next curious building that greeted us was a nature-inspired minimalist low-rise that presented a sharp contrast to the abandoned red bricked ruins we just saw. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTeNTqqQ1sapyaabWyrZGixTJJ8kIWw2skb1r33yt1PvySeBZjUs2eNpZZ26QSL2sqaz-5V2QtLyPonlqrTBfpdYCkHcwPc54DJOdcpY2Z1T8CICobd2oLlg3-Dhtn69RmOGYjao5KAY/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTeNTqqQ1sapyaabWyrZGixTJJ8kIWw2skb1r33yt1PvySeBZjUs2eNpZZ26QSL2sqaz-5V2QtLyPonlqrTBfpdYCkHcwPc54DJOdcpY2Z1T8CICobd2oLlg3-Dhtn69RmOGYjao5KAY/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Simple lines but eye-catching exterior.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEvGlEZoigDfGb59jVnJLPCUacG4bJtHVU3BvFkFSKix8t110pk5g8lJKletKNjnyQqR4JoJ-UOBZkCyqUN0OnnhyfYuYxeRtuKVYuH5dp5MWaSxeiN3NidE7qqtnLA8Kcqy_KAI3wGI/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEvGlEZoigDfGb59jVnJLPCUacG4bJtHVU3BvFkFSKix8t110pk5g8lJKletKNjnyQqR4JoJ-UOBZkCyqUN0OnnhyfYuYxeRtuKVYuH5dp5MWaSxeiN3NidE7qqtnLA8Kcqy_KAI3wGI/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The exterior facade of wooden bars makes for a dramatic backdrop for some camwhoring. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2k91pnonHOjhFvqIhmIvoQj6HK9RHvwAJS5kHt73IDXhAT3ek_41WNvd8EWMMEd_B-L0YtBUynCz8j3qLz-v_RDvPLCleJZvgmu1Wmax_hzC9RWcic-b6Cr91IHogWP3llG2iX2Eyyiw/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2k91pnonHOjhFvqIhmIvoQj6HK9RHvwAJS5kHt73IDXhAT3ek_41WNvd8EWMMEd_B-L0YtBUynCz8j3qLz-v_RDvPLCleJZvgmu1Wmax_hzC9RWcic-b6Cr91IHogWP3llG2iX2Eyyiw/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Making the most of the line works while indulging in narcissism. LOL. Surprising, we weren't chased away. Maybe the security guards didn't see us.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihc8qEdf1g5SgqXECbDzGwhTZn3Iy7bYSZi3wDSASo4Fx0BBmJwIHlCLC2kIrntlTKOMpBlT6y9QSdsYPAhmc9uxA0TRK5LnzqzAjJ8JsLf-sjPeY9GWA3hD9ZwCM5x2we7a8X-0Wldz8/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihc8qEdf1g5SgqXECbDzGwhTZn3Iy7bYSZi3wDSASo4Fx0BBmJwIHlCLC2kIrntlTKOMpBlT6y9QSdsYPAhmc9uxA0TRK5LnzqzAjJ8JsLf-sjPeY9GWA3hD9ZwCM5x2we7a8X-0Wldz8/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Exploring further, we came across this concrete cylinder that could very well be a time tunnel. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K8H7t0DVLU5wrQYSVvV4tp-sJ7g3kV7Do1CFdpU48AVI-vw496Y4PPCFTpWDxCRCwrKnUqIMso_vD_EBXMLC91rHMXof02pZg5qetjhQVZ70eTRBLWmWr2tNyAp6EyhBbcNOQPV_h9E/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K8H7t0DVLU5wrQYSVvV4tp-sJ7g3kV7Do1CFdpU48AVI-vw496Y4PPCFTpWDxCRCwrKnUqIMso_vD_EBXMLC91rHMXof02pZg5qetjhQVZ70eTRBLWmWr2tNyAp6EyhBbcNOQPV_h9E/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Totally feeling the retro vibe of this portal from the yesteryears.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_HGVnN68PdCjkXmQPN181yv5pOl22txPTCwsAVqtcH47ngRFnoUj_4tEmrebtvfDyI11a1y6Frv2VX1ZcWOKjxEoe2BVCH0F1j1SjRjxwF970nyGrMsz8DZ_jOkYsS_1TYm7YLBEauw/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_HGVnN68PdCjkXmQPN181yv5pOl22txPTCwsAVqtcH47ngRFnoUj_4tEmrebtvfDyI11a1y6Frv2VX1ZcWOKjxEoe2BVCH0F1j1SjRjxwF970nyGrMsz8DZ_jOkYsS_1TYm7YLBEauw/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unique photo-op with the unusual tunnel.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-TWFmc4PBtGVXgdg-BmC51KNnn7HHEMGV2w6hqsZD6LRPvMjvVWLI4AVonWF0wuz9bhA5hIgShqn7MUP0jCigM8GqPqnsbJfyOkc6ripr-iSWj-kZgjDoQVq64rvnjDxtUSlVggmiEw/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-TWFmc4PBtGVXgdg-BmC51KNnn7HHEMGV2w6hqsZD6LRPvMjvVWLI4AVonWF0wuz9bhA5hIgShqn7MUP0jCigM8GqPqnsbJfyOkc6ripr-iSWj-kZgjDoQVq64rvnjDxtUSlVggmiEw/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">But we weren't trigger happy for long. Shortly after a few shots, a security guard marched over to shoo us away.</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre </span></b><br />
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Opposite the concrete circular tunnel is the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC). From the red bricked ruins earlier, it's about a 10 minutes walk to KLPAC, if one could resist stopping for photos along the way.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSS3Yw0TpECa4b5N2XHpK1a5102Ca1jWVNWPGv7Xptu5Nt1wgoLs7YqyGEDRBUFQPEufwJtXJ5iU75ZbwJBBTiQbyWjbifsV0vTZh0HnZ5sPCiAFAleDrzG-vAKfak1prXArNcAYuQO-E/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSS3Yw0TpECa4b5N2XHpK1a5102Ca1jWVNWPGv7Xptu5Nt1wgoLs7YqyGEDRBUFQPEufwJtXJ5iU75ZbwJBBTiQbyWjbifsV0vTZh0HnZ5sPCiAFAleDrzG-vAKfak1prXArNcAYuQO-E/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Curves of the old juxtaposed with the order of modernity.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yZV1av1yJZdK87J_34786DCydyDhXrIlrU1brIJ-NOlYxrXXsZzav_zP3-Uu2D8SsoAmRv2DSI0DO-V7x7fEnqMjclPOHgVMBbNImVEKnMclzKExv4M6jTdTxL64b35h0HIoOI1sX6E/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yZV1av1yJZdK87J_34786DCydyDhXrIlrU1brIJ-NOlYxrXXsZzav_zP3-Uu2D8SsoAmRv2DSI0DO-V7x7fEnqMjclPOHgVMBbNImVEKnMclzKExv4M6jTdTxL64b35h0HIoOI1sX6E/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Only managed to get a few shots of the interesting profile of KLPAC before... you guessed it... a security guard came over and shooed us away.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SDBa982sIHoaGbXJIKtFwEaOG6J5Q3b2iPg5kO82L5yw6irv4PgIYiWStxFDKmeD3hsuOkCYkULmk_oVXcpR1oaywMSNq_xz9qvxHcOo1L6arOqftcP-491xRZ7lSVBYNzK_SrP-DwM/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SDBa982sIHoaGbXJIKtFwEaOG6J5Q3b2iPg5kO82L5yw6irv4PgIYiWStxFDKmeD3hsuOkCYkULmk_oVXcpR1oaywMSNq_xz9qvxHcOo1L6arOqftcP-491xRZ7lSVBYNzK_SrP-DwM/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An original spiral stairway that was salvaged from the area's history I suppose.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSnCvkzTFQ1tR2ir9SfqZxaG4DeMxCaDb_A1KGJttTcQhcpTHIRrY-zkq-XIlg5w4jK6Z2AtmO6UEh5FuWxqIHDXTU3GHv3fNr3YX8v0lKJufaxaJke6hPtAye5h-jYpEqA3sdTkPgM0/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSnCvkzTFQ1tR2ir9SfqZxaG4DeMxCaDb_A1KGJttTcQhcpTHIRrY-zkq-XIlg5w4jK6Z2AtmO6UEh5FuWxqIHDXTU3GHv3fNr3YX8v0lKJufaxaJke6hPtAye5h-jYpEqA3sdTkPgM0/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-16.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was a quiet afternoon during our visit, allowing us the peace to mellow in the shadows of the past while soaking up nature.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCndRurhwwCMtYRxrZxlXrN7Z-dxtPi53IHgYIyK56EWc3UOib0945GUQ27Ht-kMyfGfSCKFV7HPHCpgJqGvLNNrnGqpZ0wkJLqTl6naVMSTIkZ5feGugZweAsjzy_6L3Trmt75RrSmE/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCndRurhwwCMtYRxrZxlXrN7Z-dxtPi53IHgYIyK56EWc3UOib0945GUQ27Ht-kMyfGfSCKFV7HPHCpgJqGvLNNrnGqpZ0wkJLqTl6naVMSTIkZ5feGugZweAsjzy_6L3Trmt75RrSmE/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-17.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sentul Park lies beyond... We didn't cross over to explore the park as the sweltering heat quickly drained enthusiasm. Plus we weren't sure if photography will be prohibited over at the other side.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3EoFhC0t24KXgikb_O6ZmGuKnRknAI0ipretw_l6m4NJ8a1lL5q3FKfrGfz3wpI8JBNa-Q7bmMpgSD8Sv2TPAVR9PG7skoAfeQPA-AbGplsLLpeTR5QdCy22Mf5_gUlVN6rIknBvZWk/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3EoFhC0t24KXgikb_O6ZmGuKnRknAI0ipretw_l6m4NJ8a1lL5q3FKfrGfz3wpI8JBNa-Q7bmMpgSD8Sv2TPAVR9PG7skoAfeQPA-AbGplsLLpeTR5QdCy22Mf5_gUlVN6rIknBvZWk/s1600/KL-Sentul-Park-19.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sentul Park... a reclusive reflection of KL's past.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
Having made it here as a tourist, despite the relatively secret location and photography restrictions, I'm actually glad that this place is not developed for tourism although it has the makings.<br />
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For a getaway from the hyper urbanisation of Kuala Lumpur to a place where history and greenery connect, Sentul Park is a tranquil little pause button. Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-26799783949395047482017-02-14T02:46:00.001+08:002017-06-21T01:53:43.591+08:00Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) - Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 29 Jan 2017<br />
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Completed in 1880, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon is perhaps the oldest major monument of its standing in Ho Chi Minh City. It is conveniently located within the heart of the city in District 1, just opposite the main entrance of the Reunification Palace (the two attractions are separated by a park).<br />
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I did a half-day self-guided walking tour of the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, the city's Old Post Office next to it, and ending off at the Reunification Palace.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySzKxPcCBXuk72nJiGs38Z3uLSKihJxyxT_n53CLZIkJg3wxdM1-td6Pq1RPmPKaXu8Q7VtfIc8qT3od0-1q3CFo3msCJH4jN8NrmPikuYxEud0PlpUJ45AU2aQbZzdn3JMOgAy02sjY/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySzKxPcCBXuk72nJiGs38Z3uLSKihJxyxT_n53CLZIkJg3wxdM1-td6Pq1RPmPKaXu8Q7VtfIc8qT3od0-1q3CFo3msCJH4jN8NrmPikuYxEud0PlpUJ45AU2aQbZzdn3JMOgAy02sjY/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As the foliage of the park that separated the Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon parted, the cathedral's transept made its stately presence felt. </span></td></tr>
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I had wanted to start my day's exploration at Reunification Palace first but it was closed during lunch (11am - 1pm) so I came to the cathedral instead.<br />
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While I was at the closed gate of the Reunification Palace, a motorcycle taxi rider came up to me and offered to bring me on a ride to show me where the various attractions are located for US$5.00 (duration of ride is about 30 minutes). I did not take up the offer and pointed towards the park in front of the palace's main gate and indicated that I'm going to the cathedral. He told me that the cathedral is not located in the direction which I pointed and offered to take me there. So I consulted Google Map and it showed that the cathedral is very near. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLcs8XZEXeRh3oAKbtUY-FAjZaXtCpmZYHGloaXBqUhr87mma7NzvtzgKYM9lNwgtH2VyOdA2TC7ZZFMPWmCH-U59IK8kRpy-r2b5-55x9YmzqWyjvOa5pFIQ6-7TA6K8fFtXidF56xo/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLcs8XZEXeRh3oAKbtUY-FAjZaXtCpmZYHGloaXBqUhr87mma7NzvtzgKYM9lNwgtH2VyOdA2TC7ZZFMPWmCH-U59IK8kRpy-r2b5-55x9YmzqWyjvOa5pFIQ6-7TA6K8fFtXidF56xo/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the
staggering amount of traffic in Ho Chi Mink City, getting a clean shot
without any vehicle in it is good training for patience. God knows how long I waited to get this shot without any vehicles in it.</span></td></tr>
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I was a little baffled, wondering to believe him or not but I
declined his offer anyway and decided to cross the park to find out. As
it turned out, the motorcycle taxi rider hadn't been truthful. The
cathedral is located exactly in the direction that I pointed and it took
me under 3 minutes to cross the road from the gate of the
Reunification Palace, cut across the park, and arrive at the side
transept of the cathedral!<br />
<br />
Personally, I feel that the
attractions (Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
Old Post Office, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh
Market, the French Quarter and Bitexco Tower) are located within a
reasonable walking radius. That's if you stay at the centre of District 1 which is
near Ben Thanh Market. So it is not necessary to take the motorcycle
taxi ride. Moreover, US$5.00 (approx. 115,000d.) is rather expensive to
just ride past the various sites. Anyway, there are a lot of taxi scams and other money rip-offs in Ho Chi Minh City so be very careful. Click <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2017/02/ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam-taxi-scams.html" target="_blank">here</a> for some of the unpleasant encounters I experienced.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF30KHwqL_vSiP5AXputqW3RPn7n-45EnPXwsz2_jCfxga01BaCivEffs-k8R-TQS_ST8YYoM7RAfVtctshZoGsTm-jagWf0cuLCBMxn6EkqdhlPOn815XYxiemItfy2DWn44AMH4ee5w/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF30KHwqL_vSiP5AXputqW3RPn7n-45EnPXwsz2_jCfxga01BaCivEffs-k8R-TQS_ST8YYoM7RAfVtctshZoGsTm-jagWf0cuLCBMxn6EkqdhlPOn815XYxiemItfy2DWn44AMH4ee5w/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Notre-Dame
Cathedral Basilica of Saigon is right next to another of the city's
historical gem - the Ho Chi Minh City's Old Post Office that was
completed in 1891. It is also listed as one of the city's attractions to
visit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKfkMKGOd8vugLrxvbf6BvPvFt5YePYao3QPDxOiR9i38ItXhHy3oDhAAXzPiBpg5XiRyvVy8mWCAQ42LhdbKQkFoE47G-d4kIe0kmpyhLmh7Vh-hBxK5wdXdNismEVXdv_8UQ6VBnf0/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKfkMKGOd8vugLrxvbf6BvPvFt5YePYao3QPDxOiR9i38ItXhHy3oDhAAXzPiBpg5XiRyvVy8mWCAQ42LhdbKQkFoE47G-d4kIe0kmpyhLmh7Vh-hBxK5wdXdNismEVXdv_8UQ6VBnf0/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My
visit coincided with the Chinese New Year period so while I was
crossing the road to Saigon Cathedral, I caught sight of this CNY
decoration on wheels. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Talk about flower power! </span>LOL</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvfMw2HVdYCD2fTloKqyluhGvZXh934Asck3TZbrOwfMBEGCei_eWlBRZDJLHy-efkeBa5aiTTOsXMdPPSwE5R_ssIwpmju5D-vAdiX7q0vc_dfQTue486G1QJpSK8sn6ouV4LSGTotQ/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvfMw2HVdYCD2fTloKqyluhGvZXh934Asck3TZbrOwfMBEGCei_eWlBRZDJLHy-efkeBa5aiTTOsXMdPPSwE5R_ssIwpmju5D-vAdiX7q0vc_dfQTue486G1QJpSK8sn6ouV4LSGTotQ/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Facade of
the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. Officially known as the
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. I shall
call it "Saigon Cathedral" for short.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzhzIQ2jkzbOrPpfmLMRF6caSPxfq-4jN3MhT-cL0dR0oTT_tOiU6n56qBtLXEueWhkpWKlX5PtL2V2UaozIQSewQH-oUOTyjcHuUCzyWekyfI3Tj9xbU7U7lyCKesdj0veud9tmNyx0/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzhzIQ2jkzbOrPpfmLMRF6caSPxfq-4jN3MhT-cL0dR0oTT_tOiU6n56qBtLXEueWhkpWKlX5PtL2V2UaozIQSewQH-oUOTyjcHuUCzyWekyfI3Tj9xbU7U7lyCKesdj0veud9tmNyx0/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Building
materials for the cathedral were brought over from France with the
marble statue of the Virgin Mary fabricated in Rome. "Notre Dame" means
"Our Lady" in French.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc1a3yzvCQp6Zeo2twc4XC_reLI876Fh7piA3NhWKfKqUzURrPHL26WQ-3GVKEfJ4Ad6EFc5ZbrJdfn3Odyn7J6lOr-aZsIZq7kMsmO_tLimkkFElFEofDif-bB9xW3hD-W2HS6Fkm50/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc1a3yzvCQp6Zeo2twc4XC_reLI876Fh7piA3NhWKfKqUzURrPHL26WQ-3GVKEfJ4Ad6EFc5ZbrJdfn3Odyn7J6lOr-aZsIZq7kMsmO_tLimkkFElFEofDif-bB9xW3hD-W2HS6Fkm50/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting that essential "I am here" selfie shot :o)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxL8LfK2307rktUvG0QVNEmJZVWaWj-wmKhZVD9TipnBf8MS-6D-Ejr4FRdtDCwScS7XRq3d-aPls00ffugdNBmkPutUk_8x9RyhxOxDy0t7dToGHsERl-x2WTVsY79UNf9czdUyD-nuQ/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxL8LfK2307rktUvG0QVNEmJZVWaWj-wmKhZVD9TipnBf8MS-6D-Ejr4FRdtDCwScS7XRq3d-aPls00ffugdNBmkPutUk_8x9RyhxOxDy0t7dToGHsERl-x2WTVsY79UNf9czdUyD-nuQ/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 2005,
this statue of the Virgin Mary apparently wept tears from her right eye
with a tear trail running down her right cheek. Is it a miracle?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibABWBA-r8lyCN4wLrDG8yvxw80-8HjLcUDTHfI6QoD8AS4eL7Nhh79EUtJfpyKG7NxCo59Cav1HVQUFfWevZeH3Q-vlsEILdI6NAx_E6XS3B_ENuOZswrYN_O3o96au5ahkzfs9t4A6c/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibABWBA-r8lyCN4wLrDG8yvxw80-8HjLcUDTHfI6QoD8AS4eL7Nhh79EUtJfpyKG7NxCo59Cav1HVQUFfWevZeH3Q-vlsEILdI6NAx_E6XS3B_ENuOZswrYN_O3o96au5ahkzfs9t4A6c/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
weather quickly turned gloomy with light rain during my visit but
thankfully, the full blooming sunflowers planted around the statue added
a smile to appreciate the cathedral with.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgs16FW00OlUjhyXipG8RGq6lXPbxDr8F-1M8yH4vEbw_tZdlvXlarClBI_rftkQ6lHvSu-YRugAJz-0hb-AxHB8PAxDe7ntdwYIpJ_-jjbM1-Rs9BtcqkwEloIAtLyL45pbqRitsINk/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgs16FW00OlUjhyXipG8RGq6lXPbxDr8F-1M8yH4vEbw_tZdlvXlarClBI_rftkQ6lHvSu-YRugAJz-0hb-AxHB8PAxDe7ntdwYIpJ_-jjbM1-Rs9BtcqkwEloIAtLyL45pbqRitsINk/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The two bell towers housing 6 bells each stands at a height of 58m.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmFu0jkRFfmcXeAxZy0J_hG2wjTve8YDjMfQ0zbFVght9vCZREPm4KIMCnsriOjhuDxR0T-1zXe1Y6WTzlOFtlGfA7mRciqiJbXyUeE7MAGDTajxtl4nitCBMn5hX7zlFdpNeJ_Mqk-0/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmFu0jkRFfmcXeAxZy0J_hG2wjTve8YDjMfQ0zbFVght9vCZREPm4KIMCnsriOjhuDxR0T-1zXe1Y6WTzlOFtlGfA7mRciqiJbXyUeE7MAGDTajxtl4nitCBMn5hX7zlFdpNeJ_Mqk-0/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting upclose with the Saigon Cathedral.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu0h1OH0HG5OAJ6LvJv47oQkoxR37t6K2JPipXHuWnWfNFRUWtMQ-IodgN7WrZHRUMPrNG5Ke3EAekQzJSUsLQlggvK9kcJMVsidiOxivpF5afznEiCBIqiPB1J_Htu3ZzP4pLjYPh9M/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu0h1OH0HG5OAJ6LvJv47oQkoxR37t6K2JPipXHuWnWfNFRUWtMQ-IodgN7WrZHRUMPrNG5Ke3EAekQzJSUsLQlggvK9kcJMVsidiOxivpF5afznEiCBIqiPB1J_Htu3ZzP4pLjYPh9M/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The cathedral was closed during my visit so I didn't get to see the interior.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfGjICOyBwbVTW91HhqSmYWcmSXggTRr52TlmcT4qasGJXzThaKYqEfW7sZD5wptV6ObCCvY5w6Fz456jxSA_LlvKpNICgvVCVVH_d44ELHg6-Ca97bLW5FcCPHpP4RbxP5M6iNIdmw0/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfGjICOyBwbVTW91HhqSmYWcmSXggTRr52TlmcT4qasGJXzThaKYqEfW7sZD5wptV6ObCCvY5w6Fz456jxSA_LlvKpNICgvVCVVH_d44ELHg6-Ca97bLW5FcCPHpP4RbxP5M6iNIdmw0/s1600/Saigon-Cathedral-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reflection of a star attraction from the French era of Ho Chi Minh City.</span></td></tr>
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I stayed about an hour snapping photos of Saigon Cathedral's facade, most of the time spent waiting for traffic or people to clear the scene for cleaner shots of this historic religious monument.<br />
<br />
Saigon Cathedral may not be as elaborate or atmospheric as the gargoyles-laden and medieval Notre Dame de Paris, but it offered a glimpse into the early Europeanisation of Vietnam. The "invasion" of France into Vietnam's politics started because a Catholic priest asked the French government to provide military support and help to Vietnam's Emperor Gia Long in reclaiming lost lands from the country's rebelling peasants.<br />
<br />
So, always be careful when asking for help. Or one may end up losing much more.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d15677.644854392718!2d106.6989948!3d10.7797838!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0xe84f59936ced5b45!2zTm90cmUgRGFtZSBDYXRoZWRyYWwgTmjDoCBUaOG7nSDEkOG7qWMgQsOg!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ssg!4v1487009224758" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe>Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-15714733650345676122017-02-09T01:51:00.000+08:002017-10-28T08:41:28.267+08:00Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) - Taxi Scams & Other Rip-Offs<b>Date of Scamming Experiences :</b> 28 - 30 Jan 2017<br />
<br />
There are many things that could go wrong during a vacation but nothing mars a holiday more than being scammed by the locals, resulting in a constant worry of what more you could be losing or the bad things that might happen next.<br />
<br />
You simply cannot trust the people you rely on for help and hospitality.<br />
<br />
And my first visit to Ho Chi Minh City was a crash course on the myriad ways one could be scammed, especially by the taxi drivers. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAmoQNtWMCFMQ8tsTqhCz53Z0kyigNDWmWWMsGnU2HVcqNzMPVGEK_y7BshU7YRE3-_VFTPnVjFPbD_pHW0vfdd2LGVzDACpMHk5afaMPHJrCPD3OuYtryH9Lhs0zB06Q3zfE2NbOKUw/s1600/HCMC-Taxi-Scam-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAmoQNtWMCFMQ8tsTqhCz53Z0kyigNDWmWWMsGnU2HVcqNzMPVGEK_y7BshU7YRE3-_VFTPnVjFPbD_pHW0vfdd2LGVzDACpMHk5afaMPHJrCPD3OuYtryH9Lhs0zB06Q3zfE2NbOKUw/s1600/HCMC-Taxi-Scam-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My 9D8N
Vietnam trip spanned Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hanoi. During the
course of my research of the 3 cities, I came across a lot of warnings
about the dishonesty of taxi drivers and cab scams in the various
cities. I thought I was well-informed and prepared. But I was wrong.<br /><br />There
are other tactics that were not spoken about which I will share in this
post as a matter of direct, personal experiences. Not something I've
read about, or heard from, but actual incidents that happened to me.</span></td></tr>
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I spent 4D3N in Ho Chi Minh City and can't help feeling I'm nothing more than a wallet on legs. From the moment I arrived at the customs to getting a cab to the city to various experiences in patronising businesses as well as street encounters, the whole city just came across as being very money hungry.<br />
<br />
Here are my experiences with the money scams that I encountered in Ho Chi Minh City...<br />
<br />
<u><b>Custom Officer Asking for Ang Pow Money</b></u><br />
<br />
I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on the first day of Chinese New Year (28 Jan 17, Saturday). While getting my passport cleared at the customs, the immigration officer kept
saying something I couldn't decipher while he cleared my entry into the country. He kept repeating himself and when I continued to have a blank expression on my face, he opened a drawer next to him and blatantly waved a collection of about seven pieces of S$10 notes. There were other monies of different currencies in the drawer.<br />
<br />
That's when I realised hes asking him to give him "<i>ang bao</i>" (red packet) money because it is Chinese New Year. I just smiled and waited for him to
stamp my passport and left without acceding to his request for money. My friend who is Malay and got his passport cleared by another immigration officer did not experience that.<br />
<br />
If you visit Ho Chi Minh City during Chinese New Year, or possibly during any other major festive periods, just be mindful that the immigration officer might take the opportunity to ask for money. Just smile, wait for the immigration process to be completed, take your passport and leave.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Taxi Coordinator Asking for a High Flat Fee for a Ride into the City </b></u><br />
<br />
Outside the airport, we wanted to take the metered taxi to the city centre where our hotel is. A coordinator who's helping passengers get cabs told me that it is Chinese New Year, all the cabs go by fixed rate and not by meter. He asked for a flat fee of 250,000d. (approx. S$16). This is the taxi coordinator, not even the taxi driver. What if we paid this coordinator and get on the taxi and the taxi driver still charge us a metered fare?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_MtW1_TzdpeD2l_3FKal8dshVhmXZgSoSPgaibjREk2WPRi5d8z4mjPExFkaop1UiqXpnRVcPdaoolKnGdyXsC9FqancOpXKjvOY2hTGRQKKjs4_1Vg4mJLmgB3KGeie4VRtprTaYOo/s1600/HCMC-Taxi-Scam-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_MtW1_TzdpeD2l_3FKal8dshVhmXZgSoSPgaibjREk2WPRi5d8z4mjPExFkaop1UiqXpnRVcPdaoolKnGdyXsC9FqancOpXKjvOY2hTGRQKKjs4_1Vg4mJLmgB3KGeie4VRtprTaYOo/s1600/HCMC-Taxi-Scam-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When you
exit Ho Chi Minh Tan Son Nhat International Airport, turn left to get a
public taxi to your hotel. There are touts offering taxi rides inside
the airport but those will ask for a flat fee that will be much higher
than a metered fare.</span></td></tr>
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From online sources, estimated fare from airport to the city centre is about 140,000d. I didn't believe the coordinator so I asked a Vietnamese who's also waiting for a cab next to me if it is true that it's a fixed rate. He said no, the taxi should go by the meter. The coordinator promptly walked away and we got on a cab who used the meter to take us to our hotel.<br />
<br />
So if you encounter a taxi coordinator asking for a flat fee, ignore him. Check with a cab if it is using meter and get on. As a general rule, use only the green <b>Mai Linh</b> taxis or the white with blue and dark green <b>Vinasun</b> taxis.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3U0IL1Be8JAXY6aRMtl60zrxJDFoJ-WLKqNvtNh_EdlcS_GvXbvqhTX9eQc6MPLCd3hS9yWii9btYGFxPWfCEnDU8Nn1cFv_X0IZqRfm1fgxm258d7pxzrIy8W4zBWl-QWNBrdsK8Gc/s1600/HCMC-Taxi-Scam-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3U0IL1Be8JAXY6aRMtl60zrxJDFoJ-WLKqNvtNh_EdlcS_GvXbvqhTX9eQc6MPLCd3hS9yWii9btYGFxPWfCEnDU8Nn1cFv_X0IZqRfm1fgxm258d7pxzrIy8W4zBWl-QWNBrdsK8Gc/s1600/HCMC-Taxi-Scam-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taxi company to take in Ho Chi Min City - Mai Linh Taxi (green).<br />Tel : 38 38 38 38</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzM96l0jxpmtLOUcUvYEBLvrhdwHvpzVmXTpzTGYLqSKcvQGUuIwpJlZ4fstjAJgv_Jd19s7rkovnHqBLJDgpr9zkzSoOTmSPyQl3nAw3tiTJP9FwjMOkY9kFiS4Qdo-i8LWmkyd4OssE/s1600/HCMC-Taxi-Scam-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzM96l0jxpmtLOUcUvYEBLvrhdwHvpzVmXTpzTGYLqSKcvQGUuIwpJlZ4fstjAJgv_Jd19s7rkovnHqBLJDgpr9zkzSoOTmSPyQl3nAw3tiTJP9FwjMOkY9kFiS4Qdo-i8LWmkyd4OssE/s1600/HCMC-Taxi-Scam-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taxi company to take in Ho Chi Minh City - Vinasun (white with red and dark green logo). <br />Tel : 38 27 27 27</span></td></tr>
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I've taken both Mai Linh and Vinasun and the drivers use the meter. But be careful of copycat companies who use these taxi company colours but are not by them. The copycats may use the same colours (especially the Vinasun colours) or similar looking logos.<br />
<br />
While drivers from these two taxi companies are generally trustworthy and use the meter, that does not stop them from not giving exact change or going a long way to clock mileage so they can earn a higher metered fare. And that takes me to the next scam...<br />
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<u><b>Taxi Driver Did Not Give Exact Change</b></u><br />
<br />
On reaching our hotel, the metered fare showed 118,000d. Less than half the price that the coordinator asked for. But our driver turned around and asked for 200,000d. I said no. Unfortunately, I do not have smaller notes as I've just arrived in HCMC so I gave him 200,000d. and asked for change back. He gave me back only 50,000d. instead of the correct change of 82,000d.<br />
<br />
Before I could ask for my exact change, he promptly got out of the cab and unloaded our luggage.<br />
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<u><b>Driver Stole Handphone </b></u><br />
<br />
The worst of the experience was when we took a cab to a further district. We made the mistake of not sticking to Mai Linh or Vinasun taxis as we couldn't get any. After walking around quite a bit, a taxi driver called to us near the Ben Tanh Market area and we boarded his cab. I can't recall which taxi company it was but it's neither Mai Linh or Vinasun although it is mostly white in colour.<br />
<br />
When we got on the cab, the meter showed 100d. I immediately wanted to get off as I thought the driver is charging me a starting fare of 100,000d. But he assured me it's only 10,000d. So we took the cab and when we reached our destination, the meter showed 188,8880d. We were shocked and confused about the fare as it couldn't have cost so much since the journey was barely 15 minutes. So the driver clarified by taking a piece of newspaper over to explain the fare.<br />
<br />
The newspaper covered my friends bag. He explained that it's only 18,000d. We gladly paid him 20,000d. and he kept the change. We thought we were in luck to have taken such a cheap ride. 20,000d. is roughly only about S$1.30. Immediately after we got off the cab, as a habit of checking our belongings, my friend realised that his handphone was gone. He placed it in the front pocket of his bag and the driver has distracted us with the confusing fare, newspaper and stolen it.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Driver Went a Big Round to Get Higher Fare</b></u><br />
<br />
When we headed back to the city centre, we took a Mai Linh taxi and the driver went off on a tangent road, attempting to make a big round instead of the direct road that leads to our hotel. Thankfully I've been following our journey on Google map and asked him why he didn't take the direct road. He said he saw the address on our hotel's card wrongly, but I doubt it. The fare came up to 90,000d.<br />
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The scary thing is that we encountered all the above money scams all in a single day! <br />
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<b>TIPS WHEN TAKING TAXI IN HO CHI MINH : </b><br />
<br />
1. Take only Mai Linh or Vinasun taxis<br />
2. Use Uber instead of the public taxis<br />
3. Invest in a local SIM card and turn on Google maps to track your journey<br />
4. Take a photo of the driver's license displayed on the car's dashboard. If the taxi driver doesn't display a license, it is most likely a scam cab. Get off.<br />
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<u><b>Dishonest Motorcycle Taxis</b></u><br />
<br />
The four-wheeled taxis aren't the only ones that will potentially scam you, the motocycle taxis will do that too.<br />
<br />
I went to the Reunification Palace for a visit but it was closed during lunch time. As I exited the ticketing office, a motorcycle came up to me, offering to take me on a tour around the city sight's such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon and other sights for US$5.00.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Reunification Palace is closed to visitors during lunchtime from 11:00am to 1:00pm.</span></td></tr>
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I declined the offer saying that I'll just walk to the Notre-Dame Cathedral as it was just across a park at the opposite end of the Reunification Palace. I pointed right ahead across the park to where Google Map showed me the location of the cathedral is. The motorcycle driver immediately said no, that that is not the cathedral and that he will take me there.<br />
<br />
I smiled, declined his offer again and walked off. I crossed the road from the Reunification Palace towards the park, cut across the park and rising before me after the park's tree foliage cleared was... you guessed it, the Notre-Dame Cathedral! It took me under 5 minutes to walk from the palace to the cathedral.<br />
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Another motorcycle scamming incident was when we headed out to a club for a drink. It was about 2am when we left and there were no taxis in sight on the road. A little drunk, we had no clear idea of our location. After walking for a while, a motorcycle came up to us and offered to take us back to the hotel for 150,000d.<br />
<br />
As it was late, we were tired and a little tipsy, we agreed to the price thinking we were far. However, we actually weren't that far from our hotel. The bike ride lasted only around 5 minutes. If we had taken a cab, the fare would've probably been around 50,000d. Our bad for agreeing to such a high price.<br />
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<u><b>Coconut Con Artist</b></u><br />
<br />
Other than the transport scams, there's another high level scam around the outside parameters of the Reunification Palace. This is the coconut seller scam, which belongs to the highest grade of conning.<br />
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<br />
As we were making our way to the War Remnants Museum, we walked past a coconut seller. He walked alongside us and engaged us in light banter, asking where we are going and pointing us the way (even though we didn't ask as I was using Google Map). Then he said his <span class="text_exposed_hide">coconut </span><span class="text_exposed_show">burden is very heavy and asked us to try. So we had a feel of it, posed for some photos and returned it to him.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We saw many people posing with the coconut seller's prop and there were a couple o them operating in the area.</span></td></tr>
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Taking back his coconuts, he went on his way without trying to sell us anything. This is where the psychology game sets in. We felt bad for him and the fact that he wasn't trying to sell us anything and yet so friendly made us decide to buy drinks from the seller. <br /><br /> So we caught up with him and I asked him how much for one. Before he even answered me the price, he already split open one fruit and stuck a straw in it. He was about to open another one when I stopped him That's when he told me the price. Each coconut costs 50,000d. (S$3.20). At a restaurant, one coconut costs about 20,000 - 30,000d.<br /><br /> That's when we realised he's a high level type of scammer. So we paid for the expensive coconut drink and take it as fees to learn yet another lesson about the scams in HCMC.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBFtnPfBRUuk_BqFHNaAbIbIZOZZVsbYRZTXHeNGD5yBnyHDPCdRuieVqN5ETdLiNJim6xQ-g1ldWOgckuHDYyz8K5-QJto4IP_jZqz9imArBPZXfp8uwkZLs0msSx51Z-Vo1rv88ZHc/s1600/HCMC-Street+Scam-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBFtnPfBRUuk_BqFHNaAbIbIZOZZVsbYRZTXHeNGD5yBnyHDPCdRuieVqN5ETdLiNJim6xQ-g1ldWOgckuHDYyz8K5-QJto4IP_jZqz9imArBPZXfp8uwkZLs0msSx51Z-Vo1rv88ZHc/s1600/HCMC-Street+Scam-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pay no enough in Singapore. Come holiday also must work part-time as coconut drinks seller. But I promise I won't scam you. LOL.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
The scams we encountered were total holiday mood killers. It was such a damper when my friend's phone got picked and the police weren't of much help, telling us to go from one station to another to lodge a report until we gave up.<br />
<br />
This was my first visit to HCMC and the more I ventured
into city, the more I felt ripped-off and can't wait to leave. I've
never felt like this before for any other place. It will definitely be the last time I come to this scam city of Vietnam.Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-40873258961232250532017-01-24T02:34:00.001+08:002017-10-30T10:14:26.209+08:00Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) - Limablas Peranakan Restaurant @ 25 Jalan Mesui<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 16 Jan 2017<br />
<br />
Peranakan cuisine has always been one of my weaknesses and any mention of <i>udang petai</i> (prawns stir-fried with stink beans) would instantly start a wild saliva party between my teeth. So when I saw a friend's Facebook photos of his nyonya lunch at Limablas, my keyboard got drenched.<br />
<br />
But more than just serving up mouthwatering Peranakan food, Limablas' contempo-retro decor is a photographer's dream come true and would turn even the most camera-shy into an instant camwhore.<br />
<br />
Here. I must come! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwUN9PIHX0IbtbQzHYElvC69-h1pME_30gIjCHBpdBl3Q2O_I58Wn7bugIsLAicT97cRMJ-KUVoPch7hzEKst5rTbYk_KVqnL9IXBHajwq5IMdIxkoM9060E9sYB8NgMgNZx2XYDKg_Q/s1600/Limablas-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwUN9PIHX0IbtbQzHYElvC69-h1pME_30gIjCHBpdBl3Q2O_I58Wn7bugIsLAicT97cRMJ-KUVoPch7hzEKst5rTbYk_KVqnL9IXBHajwq5IMdIxkoM9060E9sYB8NgMgNZx2XYDKg_Q/s1600/Limablas-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tucked
along the eclectic Jalan Mesui lined with quirky shopfronts, the
entrance of Limablas is an invitation to travel back in time. It felt
like I was walking into a 70s hipster's home.</span></td></tr>
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The good thing about Limablas is that it is located within the popular Bukit Bintang
tourist district so it doesn't need a spaceship to get to. We stayed at Rae Hotel (which is on a street parallel to KL's famous Jalan Alor food street) and took us under 5 minutes to walk here. <br />
<br />
We had initially wanted to come by for lunch on Sunday but the restaurant was closed so we came back on a Monday expecting a large lunch crowd but it was comfortably patronised. Unfortunately, they were out of <i>petai</i> (stink beans) that day and I'll have to find equal pleasure in Limablas' other menu offerings to make up for the disappointment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB5avfIQ-fDCjNsPIo_JmOPDv1RphHGytYt4rxSyq3S4j_G4zZenHZx1NASRj3kLTJAEpETMQ4AZ-wZDd70GSAqd690drRjVsuzASIf6oH-tRj6fH23agv0ceBT-sUXNIW96ZyuNRPUk/s1600/Limablas-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB5avfIQ-fDCjNsPIo_JmOPDv1RphHGytYt4rxSyq3S4j_G4zZenHZx1NASRj3kLTJAEpETMQ4AZ-wZDd70GSAqd690drRjVsuzASIf6oH-tRj6fH23agv0ceBT-sUXNIW96ZyuNRPUk/s1600/Limablas-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Limablas
means fifteen / 15 in Malay and is the unit number where the restaurant
was originally located on Jalan Mesui. It's current unit number is 25
that's why there's a "@25" at the end. To match the retro decor theme, I
decided to channel Fei Yu Qing (<span class="st">费玉清</span>) so that my poses will fit the setting...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-fBNQHowccfz5GeAx1nGB7BZCrvvgDhrnErUN2z_4bOzJfudf4GE1lvHBSI3KqiIHtVk1RNi6gKwKTJ6RFBLUbM2ohX9KEUEtSfm3aR8M8OREButHzs_ETG3UA1OucLp1rRRz8n3_3c/s1600/Limablas-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-fBNQHowccfz5GeAx1nGB7BZCrvvgDhrnErUN2z_4bOzJfudf4GE1lvHBSI3KqiIHtVk1RNi6gKwKTJ6RFBLUbM2ohX9KEUEtSfm3aR8M8OREButHzs_ETG3UA1OucLp1rRRz8n3_3c/s1600/Limablas-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... but of course, I can't emulate my evergreen idol so it's free-styling with the patchwork of vintage furnishings.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46laCaFFrh2ynMHxnsXec1hs8o4sQw6uRyXoT__1JVErvXwy6xZ0fAKdu_UkfCA89xLVNMb-6H0gq8nS_cWHk1hyphenhyphencxjvUblh42fW6MzLQ7M-9bnbzUjMNZYWYsmj34LZy4RIhxsuzBHM/s1600/Limablas-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46laCaFFrh2ynMHxnsXec1hs8o4sQw6uRyXoT__1JVErvXwy6xZ0fAKdu_UkfCA89xLVNMb-6H0gq8nS_cWHk1hyphenhyphencxjvUblh42fW6MzLQ7M-9bnbzUjMNZYWYsmj34LZy4RIhxsuzBHM/s1600/Limablas-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Limablas has an open bar at the patio but it was too early to sample their interesting sounding cocktails.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFNKtThbomk4jteoOmKGYF4OCBWxnToGQnoe7fvPI7geV_7wnGD-XZkyYONiDaI-cqi2Ivt1EdTjlspP8aV7YN6vLe1v3gZCurIP6Wu6AgYVuW4mJAG4_9RS_O0otBZn6OSgrHht-95M/s1600/Limablas-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFNKtThbomk4jteoOmKGYF4OCBWxnToGQnoe7fvPI7geV_7wnGD-XZkyYONiDaI-cqi2Ivt1EdTjlspP8aV7YN6vLe1v3gZCurIP6Wu6AgYVuW4mJAG4_9RS_O0otBZn6OSgrHht-95M/s1600/Limablas-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello there! This uncle <i>chio</i> or not? Hahaha...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHhwoqgXNsqtSpwtQUQrEbItHdVzCw9fLZTAiEqF18bRQoYMcZM2oSYsRoX3vLPvsyu9hgANJ-8olKU6TrCwfbGAO-fpbhMQPhYyR2NZCyNWYNvKQbBEubTt_3kcRxMB6htea45JwWSA/s1600/Limablas-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHhwoqgXNsqtSpwtQUQrEbItHdVzCw9fLZTAiEqF18bRQoYMcZM2oSYsRoX3vLPvsyu9hgANJ-8olKU6TrCwfbGAO-fpbhMQPhYyR2NZCyNWYNvKQbBEubTt_3kcRxMB6htea45JwWSA/s1600/Limablas-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interior of Limablas... Yesterday didn't happen once more, it never went away.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhbKVLYUdmYTNFphcl57N990LyyDaE-FgVR4_ezK9gslPC2qtLEgAm5Jv3rc8NuS4oilOs35yxJJs7-pBCL2Ze3rCi08rGxJYspFoFDeNqSYfMmwjhRZqoYqX9b6hPQL9E-UE82yv2Vc/s1600/Limablas-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhbKVLYUdmYTNFphcl57N990LyyDaE-FgVR4_ezK9gslPC2qtLEgAm5Jv3rc8NuS4oilOs35yxJJs7-pBCL2Ze3rCi08rGxJYspFoFDeNqSYfMmwjhRZqoYqX9b6hPQL9E-UE82yv2Vc/s1600/Limablas-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Limablas
offers a set lunch menu as well as ala carte selections. Most of the
Perankan signature dishes are in it except Ayam Buah Keluak. At RM13.90
for the set lunches, they are a pretty good deal. Otherwise, eating here
would rank on the high side. I find eating in KL generally quite
expensive by local standards.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Retro-hip... a place to feed the stomach and the camera!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RecixWYqA86XxqM6klDyH1l8AC2VkcchyphenhypheneEb49nHe5euY0RsO1lnltrDNHMeakQJbqQdQ-ZCi4CP__zCJ8xMVYsKJeML8mB4pno7KBlMr3aVjqbVy1R1FtNvXB_G_f_K9CnPpIqYpbs/s1600/Limablas-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RecixWYqA86XxqM6klDyH1l8AC2VkcchyphenhypheneEb49nHe5euY0RsO1lnltrDNHMeakQJbqQdQ-ZCi4CP__zCJ8xMVYsKJeML8mB4pno7KBlMr3aVjqbVy1R1FtNvXB_G_f_K9CnPpIqYpbs/s1600/Limablas-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This flower fan looks like it fell out of the pages of Alice in Wonderland.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaSsEBF3nq-CoAgeKSalfkliLyAgb6gCDQ9EGHv2ul-50jjYOG7THHJdQPjubLVxG9cGQWhhT4OJ8v6dMmbg4c9uJed2eNckwUc60ok2pl0ekOI7xXoEiwvqGH8DVv3o5gpfZydwbFAc/s1600/Limablas-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaSsEBF3nq-CoAgeKSalfkliLyAgb6gCDQ9EGHv2ul-50jjYOG7THHJdQPjubLVxG9cGQWhhT4OJ8v6dMmbg4c9uJed2eNckwUc60ok2pl0ekOI7xXoEiwvqGH8DVv3o5gpfZydwbFAc/s1600/Limablas-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the
fun things to do was to take a closer look at the display items...
sometimes recovering a memory, and sometimes discovering a good laugh.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDjlfSsd9atO7LyuUDKtBCvELTU771GcLABhDzI6hTFI37s1hEjep8N-YA2n5hOcJ2GcVjUojUrhMa1Jxieq6p46MJcFt5oKcOZiUoKv8oo1uz6aIHJW7slGrtCRs5d3-vPF4po6F_mw/s1600/Limablas-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDjlfSsd9atO7LyuUDKtBCvELTU771GcLABhDzI6hTFI37s1hEjep8N-YA2n5hOcJ2GcVjUojUrhMa1Jxieq6p46MJcFt5oKcOZiUoKv8oo1uz6aIHJW7slGrtCRs5d3-vPF4po6F_mw/s1600/Limablas-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Old things given a new purpose at Limablas... me not included.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJu8SWsLtsz_JlqHFaPGnqeXQiRFwXfqxwYtJzAHGua6Pmd0P-CiWNrGE1CZSvjBc4cYWn4d7aeiwxF5qgMCnGdvwUxxIedZF6D-zQj7AqKeOZkMzmL9nNnmN9HOucJbNEVaulDDYN0So/s1600/Limablas-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJu8SWsLtsz_JlqHFaPGnqeXQiRFwXfqxwYtJzAHGua6Pmd0P-CiWNrGE1CZSvjBc4cYWn4d7aeiwxF5qgMCnGdvwUxxIedZF6D-zQj7AqKeOZkMzmL9nNnmN9HOucJbNEVaulDDYN0So/s1600/Limablas-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The period
setting very got 'feel'. We stayed till past 2pm when all the customers
had left and practically had the restaurant all to ourselves to shoot. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMFNyZrBqIJUqwePpfuDxVafzVkCCpupfzxKSJR_h3SrfBKXaiMKjrQs-kFEbPLYyUvpZaiLZB44TiquQHYwDSMRQaFNTQ4l545iFQx1T5IysvBGpYkmdpoiRtin1zMM0PEvhpVcvoqY/s1600/Limablas-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMFNyZrBqIJUqwePpfuDxVafzVkCCpupfzxKSJR_h3SrfBKXaiMKjrQs-kFEbPLYyUvpZaiLZB44TiquQHYwDSMRQaFNTQ4l545iFQx1T5IysvBGpYkmdpoiRtin1zMM0PEvhpVcvoqY/s1600/Limablas-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Put me in a vase and I'll bloom for you :)</span></td></tr>
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We were so caught up with capturing nostalgia and putting ourselves in the photos that we almost missed the arrival of our orders. The charms of Limablas' movie-set grade interior could almost steal the limelight from the food.<br />
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Now that I've fed my Olympus Tough TG-4, it is time to feed the tummy...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_7WzO77s4cydDt5gxETsa-6bdDt53R69J2tXmMXJHgl37QAyMxIKLcU4lCH4hBWklHy13RXDMh4dASdAH6uXXA04thLpc6tsAIuzZFC1xmx-C8fMlx8cl1uxR9nVkrzzx9_o75Asycc/s1600/Limablas-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_7WzO77s4cydDt5gxETsa-6bdDt53R69J2tXmMXJHgl37QAyMxIKLcU4lCH4hBWklHy13RXDMh4dASdAH6uXXA04thLpc6tsAIuzZFC1xmx-C8fMlx8cl1uxR9nVkrzzx9_o75Asycc/s1600/Limablas-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We ordered
the Bendil Kukus (literally translated as "bundle steamed", which is
the okra dish), Nyonya Laksa, Ayam Ponteh (stewed chicken) and Gerang
Asam Fish. The servings are rather huge so for the two of us, this is an
over-order. Usually, waiters would warn us that we've ordered too much
but maybe the waiter at Limablas thought I looked <i>yao gui</i> so he didn't stop us. Thankfully we didn't waste food. <i>*Burp!*</i><br /><br />Our bill totaled RM106.95.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_n3W2rdUsnGJKGGIXQNpW_50K5QNzbCvFuR1InWpdSqm3_eRftOWKzBvlQ7zs_7zybhRprW25JG1uKMvJeduoWgQdtfZ3Sn9a6G-LhaqIRhD0FBg4XNLgMyM2qRVNJ70rMuoDjThb3Y/s1600/Limablas-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_n3W2rdUsnGJKGGIXQNpW_50K5QNzbCvFuR1InWpdSqm3_eRftOWKzBvlQ7zs_7zybhRprW25JG1uKMvJeduoWgQdtfZ3Sn9a6G-LhaqIRhD0FBg4XNLgMyM2qRVNJ70rMuoDjThb3Y/s1600/Limablas-18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
steamed okra (Bendil Kukus) was easily my favourite. The lady's fingers
were cook just right and really tender and fresh but the <i>belachan</i>
dip it came with was a stranger. Usually when I order this Peranakan
dish, the vegetable comes with a coating of stir-fried minced garlic,
onion and chilli in lime sauce layered on top with crispy <i>hae bee</i> (deep-fried tiny shrimps). <br /><br />Maybe that's another dish altogether and not Bendil Kukus. For this, I much enjoyed the okra on its own without the sauce.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Bu7PdnGFxbJtmkQWQhAS4DVo34Woj03gx-uovryN0b6C_4-nmftPH6bnRQW5S6G-9hIv2uJk2jnXSOFU3J9OnbdgNFvgyDmub-3rd-Nd2f-cFDLcqV6hx1K2eGqHCDlQLwDT1KUZcqw/s1600/Limablas-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Bu7PdnGFxbJtmkQWQhAS4DVo34Woj03gx-uovryN0b6C_4-nmftPH6bnRQW5S6G-9hIv2uJk2jnXSOFU3J9OnbdgNFvgyDmub-3rd-Nd2f-cFDLcqV6hx1K2eGqHCDlQLwDT1KUZcqw/s1600/Limablas-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As for the
Nyonya Laksa, I think it has an identity crisis. It looked like Penang
Laksa (cucumber strips and lime) fell into a bowl of Curry Mee yet
resembled neither in taste. The broth was thick and hearty but it didn't
taste like the Nyonya Laksa I know. The taste wasn't bad, but somehow
the flavours didn't quite work together and left me baffled. Perhaps
some Laksa leaves could turn things around or it should be called Nyonya
Curry Mee... LOL</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvAVYtjjyew0gsmmAQmsxmh6tg5rBJSAaypoGry2wuOkgHMz_87CbPveAPPsj5vQohjPAEhHEwq2BShYdLsas79cJCwAOPqxs6L9rAvAC1ALVZfZ0JtivPN2-ez1be5AZ50lhG8Zcjkc/s1600/Limablas-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvAVYtjjyew0gsmmAQmsxmh6tg5rBJSAaypoGry2wuOkgHMz_87CbPveAPPsj5vQohjPAEhHEwq2BShYdLsas79cJCwAOPqxs6L9rAvAC1ALVZfZ0JtivPN2-ez1be5AZ50lhG8Zcjkc/s1600/Limablas-16.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Ayam
Ponteh won us over. Although the gravy was a tad too watery (nothing
that a little tapioca flour solution mixed into the sauce can't fix),
the dish hit all the right notes in taste and aftertaste. The chicken
was stewed till the meat divorces the bone readily and the potato and
mushroom had all soaked up the robust flavours.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV-LQNo8olvi7Ha6PxFkbfnC0CJM0gUO_H_RxEFyvC6W0p5sceV2VAcoIHOpzTaGRfXzd5JKh_cjWWiWrrCZa8Oo0rJ0A4a01lckZXs9B9HHWtIcSEIAaGWl8fWb-kxMa_rKGe7NbQ-8/s1600/Limablas-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV-LQNo8olvi7Ha6PxFkbfnC0CJM0gUO_H_RxEFyvC6W0p5sceV2VAcoIHOpzTaGRfXzd5JKh_cjWWiWrrCZa8Oo0rJ0A4a01lckZXs9B9HHWtIcSEIAaGWl8fWb-kxMa_rKGe7NbQ-8/s1600/Limablas-17.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No room for dessert... We were thinking of some Peranakan sweets to end off the saliva party but we were too stuffed!</span></td></tr>
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Okay, I must qualify ah... I'm no expert in Perankan cuisine except for being good at eating so what my tastebuds dance to may be different from yours. Overall, although vintage-themed cafes and restaurants aren't exactly a rarity nowadays, I feel that Limablas has a character of its own and makes for an interesting dining (and photography) experience in the heart of KL's downtown tourist district.<br />
<br />
<b>Address :</b> 25, Jalan Mesui, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur<br />
<b>Opening Hours :</b> 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10:30pm (Mon - Sat)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d15935.181692658882!2d101.7086534!3d3.1486069!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0x24ff032186e99e83!2sLima+Blas+Restaurant!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ssg!4v1485195337872" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe>Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-14106529167263723382017-01-19T01:34:00.000+08:002017-10-30T11:13:41.792+08:00Chiang Rai (Thailand) - Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 30 Dec 2016<br />
<br />
There's a saying that if you've never been to Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), you've never been to Chiang Rai. So...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVszw5DIeFZKliZEicmaeRNBNZT_80orMUgU7bQW6fAvEDo5TurVw19bCXATkpS6qjgbhyKpaCn75ij7wq_vIDqL6gww4R_UQuOgL12TXxpCnEb8GD5L7IngWo8TqXtYo-7L6wKnXw5I/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVszw5DIeFZKliZEicmaeRNBNZT_80orMUgU7bQW6fAvEDo5TurVw19bCXATkpS6qjgbhyKpaCn75ij7wq_vIDqL6gww4R_UQuOgL12TXxpCnEb8GD5L7IngWo8TqXtYo-7L6wKnXw5I/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... the best way to 'prove' a visit is to selfie with the temple. <i>As if I needed an excuse to have a selfie. </i>LOL</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Planning a Visit to Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)</b></span><br />
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The famous attraction is located about a 30-minute drive from Chiang Rai city centre (where the Night Bazaar and Bus Station are) and it's easy to find a day tour package that includes a visit to this temple as every one of them have it in their packaged itinerary.<br />
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If you don't want to follow a packaged tour and want to come on your own, I read online that you can hire a tuk-tuk (local motorised tricycle) for about 300-400bht for a return trip. The driver will wait an hour or two for you. A tuk-tuk will comfortably sit about 2-3 persons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMXc03NcWXFkILTOLvwnBc7_T-jpHSlN21eJt0MPh3roYJ4V-_CLhjqUsjcF32hcZbgvWWtFVSLSve-aYlajQZpIAXJ6Wj2K5iwgDHDbygbzVJftDAFT70Zqz_IlUStkTryaCi1Dczuk/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMXc03NcWXFkILTOLvwnBc7_T-jpHSlN21eJt0MPh3roYJ4V-_CLhjqUsjcF32hcZbgvWWtFVSLSve-aYlajQZpIAXJ6Wj2K5iwgDHDbygbzVJftDAFT70Zqz_IlUStkTryaCi1Dczuk/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roadside
view of Wat Rong Khun. The temple is not hidden in some secluded spot
but is highly visible by the side of the road it sits along. These
photos were taken on a pavement next to the road before even entering
the temple.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVCrPJrtgk6gV9DfP6IVnKK35mHoO9FOKz_eB9v01_gfW1n0ecJeqMLAwiAYXfi1aBKq211Hex0RvFFvGtn61-yZa3I8tq-NFhGyfbiepqg3L9gyCkmRC-LsqQYcn2XacNYpc4pDZOkU/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVCrPJrtgk6gV9DfP6IVnKK35mHoO9FOKz_eB9v01_gfW1n0ecJeqMLAwiAYXfi1aBKq211Hex0RvFFvGtn61-yZa3I8tq-NFhGyfbiepqg3L9gyCkmRC-LsqQYcn2XacNYpc4pDZOkU/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A water
demon guards the shallow canal that runs next to Wat Rong Khun, offering
a prelude to the bizarre and macabre sculptures within the temple
grounds.</span></td></tr>
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As I wanted more time to explore this icon of Chiang Rai at my own
pace instead of following a tour, I decided to hire a car for a day and
customise my own tour itinerary.<br />
<br />
There are 3 of us (my
parents and I) and it costs 750bht per person to go 4 places - <b>Wat Rong
Khun</b>, <b>Singha Park</b>, <b>Khun Korn Waterfall</b>, and <b>Wat Huay Pla Kang</b>. It is good to group these 4 attractions together as they are within the southern cluster of attractions (using Chiang Rai city centre as a point of reference) so travelling time from one to the other can be cut down.<br />
<br />
To me, the northern cluster of attractions would be Baan Dam (Black
House), 5 Tribes Villages, Mae Sai, and Golden Triangle, which are
offered by most tour packages and they usually include Wat Rong Khun as well so you can imagine how rushed the day tour would be. If you join a tour, you'll get about 45 minutes at Wat Rong Khun. I prefer to take my time to take photos and take in the ambience of the place. My visit lasted slightly over 2 hours here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeHMwDo_e4etFOYtRBbMo08BctWAJZCaF6i2TpMB9Gh4HXoYH4tclSZhOYNJbsO_DsQsgQqBGmWZ3Fh2WXp8UmNW_3ZlPJMigzc522gunulh7J2mhSfxbFIQDuyN_7-PJkY3IWllFdCA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeHMwDo_e4etFOYtRBbMo08BctWAJZCaF6i2TpMB9Gh4HXoYH4tclSZhOYNJbsO_DsQsgQqBGmWZ3Fh2WXp8UmNW_3ZlPJMigzc522gunulh7J2mhSfxbFIQDuyN_7-PJkY3IWllFdCA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">With my folks at Wat Rong Khun. They were wearing matchy-matchy t-shirts. How cute!</span></td></tr>
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We booked our tour
through an agency (called "So Good") near the Night Bazaar. We've asked a
few agencies and So Good offered the best rate. So good indeed! <br />
<br />
Our
driver picked us up at our hotel (Wangcome Hotel) at 8:30am and our
tour ended at almost 7:00pm. We tipped the driver who didn't speak much
English 200bht. So our total cost for the day's tour was 2,450bht, not
inclusive of meals and entrance fees.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Beauty and Her Necessary Beasts</b></span><br />
<br />
From far, Wat Rong Khun looks like an immaculately pristine embodiment of purity. But on closer look, you will find frightening and grotesque sculptures that seem out of place in this vision of great divine beauty.<br />
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This coexistence of gods and demons, heaven and hell, is deeply rooted in the Hinduism percept of duality where good and evil are complementary. One cannot exist without the other. Without darkness, we wouldn't understand light. The <i>ying</i> goes hand-in-hand with the <i>yang</i>. As Buddhism has profound connections to Hinduism, Wat Rong Khun expresses this fundamentally Hindu philosophical principle in the context of Thai Buddhist architecture.<br />
<br />
Personally, whenever I encounter a skull or 'ugly blemish' to the overall beauty of Wat Rong Khun during my visit, it is a reminder that nobody is perfect. We all have skeletons in our closets. Me included :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9AJOjlc3cCnvlQZTZd8PyyME3IYfEuuvsXkNxe3Ws5TnJyo0lmZ04QzI9JR7IvcpL_WZspQVWbdNZJJWfrkuZabipyTys-050ta4MwJx39M4BsfTiq_uMNOF46Nk2VCCRkk6hQnz0ZA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9AJOjlc3cCnvlQZTZd8PyyME3IYfEuuvsXkNxe3Ws5TnJyo0lmZ04QzI9JR7IvcpL_WZspQVWbdNZJJWfrkuZabipyTys-050ta4MwJx39M4BsfTiq_uMNOF46Nk2VCCRkk6hQnz0ZA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can't
read Thai but it looks like this is a health warning for alcoholics
against the golden gate of spiritual nirvana. Wouldn't this send a
message to booze more so as to get there faster? Hmm...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrsO70YOBz2_UCmMm-OIEgKnEjRBYM0QZuFThHXrgd_eyeghlxWLF84dWoB9i616BMastHgLJuHta6VU1ALSgsWfn718AxsQ-4830yDts09224X8Q55P1H9ZCDBdA5LW5-ujP-11I61I/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrsO70YOBz2_UCmMm-OIEgKnEjRBYM0QZuFThHXrgd_eyeghlxWLF84dWoB9i616BMastHgLJuHta6VU1ALSgsWfn718AxsQ-4830yDts09224X8Q55P1H9ZCDBdA5LW5-ujP-11I61I/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is Predator doing at Wat Rong Khun? Is it a nod to the ancient alien theory of life on earth?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC1cKcDeNg4TgUEO7WGIKlwW7QAXRhugmHRuXWR8qtdWjfKk75PkMWxuwAO40cXFDzFcypdO-2odNRCqsvU7nu768B_SHJWLcZ0Dwe2vLjs_qHzh2aWURa_gAtaLmJBZadLsMQTE8JcI/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC1cKcDeNg4TgUEO7WGIKlwW7QAXRhugmHRuXWR8qtdWjfKk75PkMWxuwAO40cXFDzFcypdO-2odNRCqsvU7nu768B_SHJWLcZ0Dwe2vLjs_qHzh2aWURa_gAtaLmJBZadLsMQTE8JcI/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hanging heads of folklores and superheroes greeted us.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJ-IsrD89AEQNCTt7FSs7j3DVTT1K5gR1trrpcIgyacKLD8gYsqV9F6Z6Lj-or11Y3mUkgQ0YyqhBBUDQBv-MJGnMyry5ja_27lWhl2PWT4e4JMkHgG4mM-rsfB_2KUKRTt-IPZv2z08/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJ-IsrD89AEQNCTt7FSs7j3DVTT1K5gR1trrpcIgyacKLD8gYsqV9F6Z6Lj-or11Y3mUkgQ0YyqhBBUDQBv-MJGnMyry5ja_27lWhl2PWT4e4JMkHgG4mM-rsfB_2KUKRTt-IPZv2z08/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hellraiser, Ironman and Hellboy... Hollywood comes to Chiang Rai.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGerj7FhhrI1bW9EiJfTEf5lvSZkWUG0azNTYIX0Cp2WHsa5sfZmGiOzi0vzTF-4rio5vyo21u49s65-Kz0f93dWoSmoB5Kl1ELVuV9P449VkOJgKtuh_JSPxM9m3oS_TG3bR4NgekdVQ/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGerj7FhhrI1bW9EiJfTEf5lvSZkWUG0azNTYIX0Cp2WHsa5sfZmGiOzi0vzTF-4rio5vyo21u49s65-Kz0f93dWoSmoB5Kl1ELVuV9P449VkOJgKtuh_JSPxM9m3oS_TG3bR4NgekdVQ/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My pre-cious...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QfVM3xadWKXmcOnLsHQbJb0ziiCFS2GiZ1cCGJ_SNioe-pUztHPLgMClVLuCwfw_N2pEnSDL0bc06gEpwQavVrS5hOLCBUXNiJIaVNPXSaATD1SYPpxSRHTdnlKUK1fRBySo2zd20FM/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QfVM3xadWKXmcOnLsHQbJb0ziiCFS2GiZ1cCGJ_SNioe-pUztHPLgMClVLuCwfw_N2pEnSDL0bc06gEpwQavVrS5hOLCBUXNiJIaVNPXSaATD1SYPpxSRHTdnlKUK1fRBySo2zd20FM/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before
even entering Wat Rong Khun, my curiousity was piqued by the assortment
of loathsome looking heads dangling from branches. Entrance to Wat Rong
Khun is free for Thais while foreigners pay a 50bht entrance fee, which
is rather nominal.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOHJEfzRBWPmFtphVXDahY4JNHGM1AzI80b7Q3qsMYAppNIGx9kDZzC-bNaQJOlai8bxwoQbXCi3Aw_7Hyd1ohEn7ewTorbW8KkL2nlI6FUSq2gLdbteT-sIrhqP6t0dghMYaQe5nhQs/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOHJEfzRBWPmFtphVXDahY4JNHGM1AzI80b7Q3qsMYAppNIGx9kDZzC-bNaQJOlai8bxwoQbXCi3Aw_7Hyd1ohEn7ewTorbW8KkL2nlI6FUSq2gLdbteT-sIrhqP6t0dghMYaQe5nhQs/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I thought
I've left the scary stuff behind but I'm greeted by entrance gates
topped with 4-faced skulls upon entering Wat Rong Khun. Is this a temple
or horror house?!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Not a Typical Thai Temple </b></span><br />
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Wat Rong Khun is not actually a temple but a privately owned
art-chitecture gallery conceived by Chiang Rai's resident artist,
Chalermchai Kosipipat. <br />
<br />
Wat Rong Khun was a temple that degenerated into
disrepair and restoration works had to be stopped due to insufficient
funds. A deeply devout Buddhist, Chalermchai decided to fund and rebuild
the temple with a vision to blend tradition with contemporary art. Wat
Rong Khun would serve as a centre for Buddhist teachings and meditation
in Chiang Rai and is the artist's way of contributing merit to gain
immortality.<br />
<br />
The reconstruction of Wat Rong Khun began in 1997 with new buildings and extensions added. The entire architectural project is expected to be completed in 2070. This is kinda like the Asian answer to the Spanish <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2013/03/spain-sagrada-familia.html" target="_blank">Sagrada Familia</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rwaONBawnfIoPPWQh9x1KeVjcIserMi2Zx_3la2Aq_hR_skew9FVv_0K2ZBJCGayxOVK_GiF98DkuFzSkIQoDjcrdWubg3N8xE8ozWWe4T7sIAgAQYS3yL6JlLh_1cTr8SBW8N0F6UE/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rwaONBawnfIoPPWQh9x1KeVjcIserMi2Zx_3la2Aq_hR_skew9FVv_0K2ZBJCGayxOVK_GiF98DkuFzSkIQoDjcrdWubg3N8xE8ozWWe4T7sIAgAQYS3yL6JlLh_1cTr8SBW8N0F6UE/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
must-get shot with the White Temple in the background. Still can't get
over my parents' matchy-matchy t-shirts. LOL... And I thought romance
was dead.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOxw3AcvMbcXwbgcIO_iZ1mtJCFOgF63xyH8AKeRHZIof6AeC4JNX_35BSMKYew4yxz79IzRi-egg0SIfckTln2H9C7knEsG3rq60yW2WOmsjDY8Md2XwhcMbT8Ej9Ef6qmce9q7kMLk/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOxw3AcvMbcXwbgcIO_iZ1mtJCFOgF63xyH8AKeRHZIof6AeC4JNX_35BSMKYew4yxz79IzRi-egg0SIfckTln2H9C7knEsG3rq60yW2WOmsjDY8Md2XwhcMbT8Ej9Ef6qmce9q7kMLk/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Money-maker
shot of Wat Rong Khun (I'll use Wat Rong Khun and White Temple
interchangeably). While there are many tourists around, it is not
difficult to get a clear shot of the temple as this angle is by the
water's edge so no one will be in front of the camera. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K0yU0_kuPJL6p6LPOUYSoatCMzlYEYdiugGzV02Og1Lg3urGNK7sLiDzUiMB41pBDc8zkAk3ClXwvGzB47vlR1_cfq89uSrTISd62dA_u0hGOyAJ77GI2CULhRKOCwb_kKPtjvcTGtM/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K0yU0_kuPJL6p6LPOUYSoatCMzlYEYdiugGzV02Og1Lg3urGNK7sLiDzUiMB41pBDc8zkAk3ClXwvGzB47vlR1_cfq89uSrTISd62dA_u0hGOyAJ77GI2CULhRKOCwb_kKPtjvcTGtM/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-16.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pass the surrounding pond with white kois <i>(yes, even the fish is white!)</i> we arrived at the entrance to the ubosot, which is the main prayer hall.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTluc949cBTlgMU1p2ZLGC3m3uTkkJhZbv_sNQ8lNCPRSdVKd_-SdPoH87XaZ0HFz8VR_Hy8VY90fAckrGcX7W6UudKz-jPmNpe17ivg3lZtN6-C4Obr05sraDEcKN1VZJzPnv4Mi0l7Q/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTluc949cBTlgMU1p2ZLGC3m3uTkkJhZbv_sNQ8lNCPRSdVKd_-SdPoH87XaZ0HFz8VR_Hy8VY90fAckrGcX7W6UudKz-jPmNpe17ivg3lZtN6-C4Obr05sraDEcKN1VZJzPnv4Mi0l7Q/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-17.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To get to
the ubosot, we must first cross hell, be judged by the guardian deities
before crossing the bridge of the cycle of rebirth to heaven represented
by the ubosot building.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIMinNEzY-8bSgg8M6JzSoVvz7KSHyR4TdqXgVvpDt5KUqFSAqOuYZzgc0-b_-FI0t6JtCvd0-kTivroGP2poqCeoaCypziHkZbiziQWSphhe9NgArjUOlUaRvEGC0lD92V8XbuTPd8w/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIMinNEzY-8bSgg8M6JzSoVvz7KSHyR4TdqXgVvpDt5KUqFSAqOuYZzgc0-b_-FI0t6JtCvd0-kTivroGP2poqCeoaCypziHkZbiziQWSphhe9NgArjUOlUaRvEGC0lD92V8XbuTPd8w/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A beautifully ugly face... No matter how good we looked, it will one day decay away.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUSq3H5VxS5aEIf_Xd4X_gjBE8E0Bgvh0rEV1WAThjn3bRkfZXltJ7pYtLKGF6V4THEfu3Z_pbAh45O2MpHgHeGscVFU7jQglg__U_CqkHmc8nMLPOgGp66NpaodXyA7V3pSa9ZAwcoU/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUSq3H5VxS5aEIf_Xd4X_gjBE8E0Bgvh0rEV1WAThjn3bRkfZXltJ7pYtLKGF6V4THEfu3Z_pbAh45O2MpHgHeGscVFU7jQglg__U_CqkHmc8nMLPOgGp66NpaodXyA7V3pSa9ZAwcoU/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-19.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So very Pan's Labyrinth-y.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxizmR4949TbHj0UpfmfPZqPj5Tl5ZSuQNCh_7cgTeI9xcCOCW32v3YeTrpZRVsZUeZVDw6LeWzNAFWEsCptkrBtVTXzUUIIDeM8LKvUNwA41YeBEvdecNwI-xW-T4vrDdNSq7YaFEc7k/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxizmR4949TbHj0UpfmfPZqPj5Tl5ZSuQNCh_7cgTeI9xcCOCW32v3YeTrpZRVsZUeZVDw6LeWzNAFWEsCptkrBtVTXzUUIIDeM8LKvUNwA41YeBEvdecNwI-xW-T4vrDdNSq7YaFEc7k/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-20.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Outstretched hands fill the pits that the bridge crosses.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFRcahvqD-pR40r-PLT6-cRbuAuH2WHq8iHotmXRluNmaKXhoKcmFXnwTRpF_mP5nM5NRvhe85BHCb3cG7Kb7mew1LShqN9ikcWVZ5wF7rF4rRVSnJHIzngMvnKkbA2ix8OtTPInPuaA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFRcahvqD-pR40r-PLT6-cRbuAuH2WHq8iHotmXRluNmaKXhoKcmFXnwTRpF_mP5nM5NRvhe85BHCb3cG7Kb7mew1LShqN9ikcWVZ5wF7rF4rRVSnJHIzngMvnKkbA2ix8OtTPInPuaA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-21.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
outstretched hands in a pit represents incessant needs, where human
aspirations and desires are unending and never satisfied. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_mTqBpnKDfMKxKjkAucNCte4vLeIzFEMc6JLL2XX8TDKGc8tdwF3e0YhkETNoa0ZI0kyHO7oRAkWv98GGMov5OJVYQj5n-3elcwKxODzqru9uTMjhAbGx4Ygu70wlQWkWzV7x0nRjfU/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_mTqBpnKDfMKxKjkAucNCte4vLeIzFEMc6JLL2XX8TDKGc8tdwF3e0YhkETNoa0ZI0kyHO7oRAkWv98GGMov5OJVYQj5n-3elcwKxODzqru9uTMjhAbGx4Ygu70wlQWkWzV7x0nRjfU/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-22.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When you
cross the bridge, there's no turning back. Literally. If you turn back
for a quick photo with the pit of hands as foreground and ubosot as
background, a staff will chide you over a loud speaker for stopping,
even if just for a split second, and hurry you to move quickly along.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LyfI3uB4vEN6rRTUc2eTRtotBkMgl2xSAyRPrSXIwKyWqWiOdmpCsmZEoCkAtWy7BP0lQIcxne0NUlxs_nwYVw7x1MuR3Qi_g-nIqv-miVRoD61eSaSgszyBp1kLTaCIwgjJp_0ar2Y/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LyfI3uB4vEN6rRTUc2eTRtotBkMgl2xSAyRPrSXIwKyWqWiOdmpCsmZEoCkAtWy7BP0lQIcxne0NUlxs_nwYVw7x1MuR3Qi_g-nIqv-miVRoD61eSaSgszyBp1kLTaCIwgjJp_0ar2Y/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-24.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Guardians 'judge' those who cross the heavenly bridge at the entrance.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikBWRgjfrG2NEqUZ7a298zLMgl5k5gX7Yoqeyxv8ymGpN2YQ4dy5pDjoYDhgOEItu5EA_e-DJ556kMBPcK95AjXtNkGl1nDTbhPxEC5yoSo2fU4HO_MJ_qinDp2DyXRwQXYPfpNwQiww/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikBWRgjfrG2NEqUZ7a298zLMgl5k5gX7Yoqeyxv8ymGpN2YQ4dy5pDjoYDhgOEItu5EA_e-DJ556kMBPcK95AjXtNkGl1nDTbhPxEC5yoSo2fU4HO_MJ_qinDp2DyXRwQXYPfpNwQiww/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-23.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Approaching
the very busily decorated gable of Wat Rong Khun's ubosot (main prayer
hall). No photography allowed inside the ubosot which has paintings on
its interior wall depicting the four stages of life - birth, vigour,
illness and death.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTeHtAhmlb-JDOnK35zGgnaEDAHO-8pEF5Eb69g5kVu-czwUYKAR6SmbYfgGuSHUlWhW2bbUw85GvZtr93Jbb2EjCL6i4fFn_66zSEdIUxB8yfB4rYk5VD4ECOOedcH49FJNkXX2zbFo/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTeHtAhmlb-JDOnK35zGgnaEDAHO-8pEF5Eb69g5kVu-czwUYKAR6SmbYfgGuSHUlWhW2bbUw85GvZtr93Jbb2EjCL6i4fFn_66zSEdIUxB8yfB4rYk5VD4ECOOedcH49FJNkXX2zbFo/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-25.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White represents the purity of Buddha while silver embellishments represent his wisdom. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigMuviBJvCO0X4x99FPkonMd10ecK0FbQx7o8eGrC4vk3RL45TR8GEMSACxicjm3hHpQQ4BQenSFe0YBfnNdb7_ReTeH0v5KwevbzsZIEU9FBbJJLd7CWwFAws2Fy2ZOZ9Ih3neAx-WQ/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigMuviBJvCO0X4x99FPkonMd10ecK0FbQx7o8eGrC4vk3RL45TR8GEMSACxicjm3hHpQQ4BQenSFe0YBfnNdb7_ReTeH0v5KwevbzsZIEU9FBbJJLd7CWwFAws2Fy2ZOZ9Ih3neAx-WQ/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-26.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An aspara making a floral offering.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNPt8vRpHSl_ETRe78bb8pS-N_LLAKnovA0mU9ck5rK0kROaYS-BUq7IxelbAIBL1eR8jJZ_M4hlYlMBC4LgbjvD11zkn3GCORA7XhgaeEmxFfTLKz5FN4uEcFDB3qpRX26Z9g6F_Bm8/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNPt8vRpHSl_ETRe78bb8pS-N_LLAKnovA0mU9ck5rK0kROaYS-BUq7IxelbAIBL1eR8jJZ_M4hlYlMBC4LgbjvD11zkn3GCORA7XhgaeEmxFfTLKz5FN4uEcFDB3qpRX26Z9g6F_Bm8/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-27.jpg" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEExuYqH0VCxvsrEA86hDxQ8YLLMPxL9f3JVqjvnvP5eubo0g35J2A1iRA1648bSShnnQjzDkxv3Z4zk_bpQhPlCgs2fXcgL1lYqIWCcUwTrjogyNMbMgSZ7v-gDOjWVqZHteoDI3gk8/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEExuYqH0VCxvsrEA86hDxQ8YLLMPxL9f3JVqjvnvP5eubo0g35J2A1iRA1648bSShnnQjzDkxv3Z4zk_bpQhPlCgs2fXcgL1lYqIWCcUwTrjogyNMbMgSZ7v-gDOjWVqZHteoDI3gk8/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-29.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No inch left undecorated.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcejCZo9oV0vVaKb5CwirjGyK8UkuMaCPK7uDM6VjMfDrV-4gpfHw_3tKrcoZF0prlwSFl1ek2azuBZfEBAojAz0nE8i6fT9oEXbuPKQEKTUkSupgMFUSZEPQgmoA0bL5xkbf8P6_0ZXE/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcejCZo9oV0vVaKb5CwirjGyK8UkuMaCPK7uDM6VjMfDrV-4gpfHw_3tKrcoZF0prlwSFl1ek2azuBZfEBAojAz0nE8i6fT9oEXbuPKQEKTUkSupgMFUSZEPQgmoA0bL5xkbf8P6_0ZXE/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-30.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrance of the ubosot. Shoes must be removed before entering and no photography allowed inside.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNelq41-pVJU2jxJMIzB2Efik4DFr7__wDj8pa8JiWA6kbb53GUP_peLt1NShR8I_8sg_LNqHn4tLcb97oLhIoxiBojpigjr4NL0uNIPMHBBqWpIwf3ZwMbeZfrUtAnYD4mOyX5B9aIh8/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNelq41-pVJU2jxJMIzB2Efik4DFr7__wDj8pa8JiWA6kbb53GUP_peLt1NShR8I_8sg_LNqHn4tLcb97oLhIoxiBojpigjr4NL0uNIPMHBBqWpIwf3ZwMbeZfrUtAnYD4mOyX5B9aIh8/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-28.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Corridor next to the ubosot.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5OhCcxVi3GnkhRo1EXUFlotSW9vtDKgrKhMf40znBVu4rAgkspxfq7R2gTsasQi5Xa7ySazAe8u4Qq3HQFgava58vyCqYdslrdaTLFbY9zHunSJPTrA2Xbmzyylz2qstHGBl3eM7Q80/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5OhCcxVi3GnkhRo1EXUFlotSW9vtDKgrKhMf40znBVu4rAgkspxfq7R2gTsasQi5Xa7ySazAe8u4Qq3HQFgava58vyCqYdslrdaTLFbY9zHunSJPTrA2Xbmzyylz2qstHGBl3eM7Q80/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-32.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking back towards the gate from a corridor surrounding the ubosot.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzW2pZQDAKPMPJHEvwMcXQh29KUfSVrHNGXeeLFeon0i2DKIhStditT3-IcoHCW-fGgiVlKq24S0pMwH5nC6OCRzWC39hTMcTzzaQrJ1Nl1r9uGQxPqXcB0sr17ekH8SUjqyPZ5DnLQ1A/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzW2pZQDAKPMPJHEvwMcXQh29KUfSVrHNGXeeLFeon0i2DKIhStditT3-IcoHCW-fGgiVlKq24S0pMwH5nC6OCRzWC39hTMcTzzaQrJ1Nl1r9uGQxPqXcB0sr17ekH8SUjqyPZ5DnLQ1A/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-31.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An vision of calmness and serenity... the simplicity of the monk is a visual pause button.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZx3tmlbUIK0gvGGrIoL1SFxeuaNQ-FUquygGR9HzJvhZt86FrlV_VMW1XC5mVwpJYUYTwPGMbagkKZwGrH-mawgHZwtZGTp7lPKoCGNI1nQoe7ddABpjpfUArrUlTIatiwuWY0QGUbY/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZx3tmlbUIK0gvGGrIoL1SFxeuaNQ-FUquygGR9HzJvhZt86FrlV_VMW1XC5mVwpJYUYTwPGMbagkKZwGrH-mawgHZwtZGTp7lPKoCGNI1nQoe7ddABpjpfUArrUlTIatiwuWY0QGUbY/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-33.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 'clean' white pagodas in the back garden provide a stark contrast to the highly ornate decorations all around Wat Rong Khun.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt97DshtQONuVohr7StOYl2irSPcYOU6AFiMctt4vUibZI1YPJOfBdfLxc3t7fIcHxTrACeJA7SJ-jMbM6Wv6Izql1LZp1MCXnLRIxKxYhTXro-k8YMby97nEi7tmI4PEfgjyHnY4uAGg/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt97DshtQONuVohr7StOYl2irSPcYOU6AFiMctt4vUibZI1YPJOfBdfLxc3t7fIcHxTrACeJA7SJ-jMbM6Wv6Izql1LZp1MCXnLRIxKxYhTXro-k8YMby97nEi7tmI4PEfgjyHnY4uAGg/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-35.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTPKzMdJNgY633Kvh_jUgL-9L9RhSz_a_DeVuy5gIHm86c3k3J8XHRUsV798K2p9MKGfDwgLWAFYBppY-EyjMcCINX1qFAY4Z-p5oD-gMCw-6MN8kYM_CWfpquJdiAh5G_etiHDjxkHI/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTPKzMdJNgY633Kvh_jUgL-9L9RhSz_a_DeVuy5gIHm86c3k3J8XHRUsV798K2p9MKGfDwgLWAFYBppY-EyjMcCINX1qFAY4Z-p5oD-gMCw-6MN8kYM_CWfpquJdiAh5G_etiHDjxkHI/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-36.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Exit gate of Wat Rong Khun's ubosot area.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUBApVxFkbfUDziJRh6aG8obWpFiD5GdVTQbasB8FutC-cutbs5A_gJwptptIrOzPbZC52k97kelizZkJdZPmf1jPd0p2PFL7LSKLbIDS9WsgJOVnsM_OmWbOdBicexUMt-svJ_LKhtE/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUBApVxFkbfUDziJRh6aG8obWpFiD5GdVTQbasB8FutC-cutbs5A_gJwptptIrOzPbZC52k97kelizZkJdZPmf1jPd0p2PFL7LSKLbIDS9WsgJOVnsM_OmWbOdBicexUMt-svJ_LKhtE/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-38.jpg" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpD_0XRMl5M9ms6VXA4647OzIWW3zBJmzpQ3k7SWr3gtbTdS8r2tstutPg4D21YEV5zCaiH3ePXVRhl7CrKG7DYpG6Zj8pGOnl7QYdm4-6mjrNkmAAyvuAC82fiOVqVx1pkS237M4bfg/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpD_0XRMl5M9ms6VXA4647OzIWW3zBJmzpQ3k7SWr3gtbTdS8r2tstutPg4D21YEV5zCaiH3ePXVRhl7CrKG7DYpG6Zj8pGOnl7QYdm4-6mjrNkmAAyvuAC82fiOVqVx1pkS237M4bfg/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-37.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I've
seen many photos of the White Temple, nothing beats the thrill of
finding a personal angle to frame the temple, an angle that I have not
seen before.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRTos9vxPRAo4BsCGwRPZ9yZgcZM5GQN98TOv7u6SpmWxyWKmBvBTTDN6DZn7ck5MQ0KE0ZkXpDgKPPjB_wJEC1ZtmYd53Jhg9Y4eP2mMv1z_7vILJtT146_ozESaTjSQLrjA2GTqAkY/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRTos9vxPRAo4BsCGwRPZ9yZgcZM5GQN98TOv7u6SpmWxyWKmBvBTTDN6DZn7ck5MQ0KE0ZkXpDgKPPjB_wJEC1ZtmYd53Jhg9Y4eP2mMv1z_7vILJtT146_ozESaTjSQLrjA2GTqAkY/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-39.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Close to the exit from the ubosot area is a pavilion guarded by what looks like twin cone-shaped Christmas tree.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GLJWTgg3tobTCkfzmavbkqnZD2bUOJIj1-auDOuQwrf6jCksesCmobgEYilv6_iYjqW2WtEH05r9PotWhJb8gwcSwg9q3rM-cecft5YFeWvo9TcTLqSSnrZwOavEW9HaTB4FjavPep4/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GLJWTgg3tobTCkfzmavbkqnZD2bUOJIj1-auDOuQwrf6jCksesCmobgEYilv6_iYjqW2WtEH05r9PotWhJb8gwcSwg9q3rM-cecft5YFeWvo9TcTLqSSnrZwOavEW9HaTB4FjavPep4/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-42.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 'trees' are adorned with countless bells with hanging medallions in the shape of stylised bodhi leaves.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mP3Zt-RSUxhpfvF1Qzm1U0nVbzWbYUtL4Jjw0S4MMOE8h7HbZIgX5DjNZpe51JB_flxIE7bF5U0F9LoqKfPlxbNCQ5K91gkYAppbFG_DK0cQKHFY22RXnqlGlYc4NcfqhaAA5Vd1IKA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mP3Zt-RSUxhpfvF1Qzm1U0nVbzWbYUtL4Jjw0S4MMOE8h7HbZIgX5DjNZpe51JB_flxIE7bF5U0F9LoqKfPlxbNCQ5K91gkYAppbFG_DK0cQKHFY22RXnqlGlYc4NcfqhaAA5Vd1IKA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-40.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 12 Chinese zodiac animals rim the cap of the pavilion which houses a wishing well.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkClATowYfiG09CRHbs_oAQA9mOlXeOtPIvPP2OsGK-6TGfsOTIzRTFk3-g_9eK0nHt7mbgTQLaLS1cZOpJ-mgGiJ3w6uEpGJJZJwWm0WXnfpJqF3PzexU_dxMAiQU-Bm7DY_ilH4EESA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkClATowYfiG09CRHbs_oAQA9mOlXeOtPIvPP2OsGK-6TGfsOTIzRTFk3-g_9eK0nHt7mbgTQLaLS1cZOpJ-mgGiJ3w6uEpGJJZJwWm0WXnfpJqF3PzexU_dxMAiQU-Bm7DY_ilH4EESA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-41.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can
try to toss a coin and land it within the lotus sculpture at the bottom
of the well or just anywhere in it and make a wish... Hope your wishes
will come true :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8n7GdmlxZxYOzLsmBH9sqZlysazKV6cwMpZV57UQzYcZKjGIojRap36GW_xx6KhRwM8yck49RCOCWXCPLcCTdMYDTHPqSV4rNyvPGA9-YcuitrPyr4n13OIKxcm7mmBT584_ajo8IhTc/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8n7GdmlxZxYOzLsmBH9sqZlysazKV6cwMpZV57UQzYcZKjGIojRap36GW_xx6KhRwM8yck49RCOCWXCPLcCTdMYDTHPqSV4rNyvPGA9-YcuitrPyr4n13OIKxcm7mmBT584_ajo8IhTc/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-44.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another ornately decorated pavilion I came across within the compounds of Wat Rong Khun.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT6BegauklaWAOmdFLBBEqFcFX95LTWRwaPUIbffqq_i7KEAO_BGae0bgTLk7m6G3Q6iGewV0vjgvVgLeBVPmQAk_YKUkb7lB29fSNKZ1f14uX1GznYhaajoCGjhKToyeRgLnEPn32Lg/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT6BegauklaWAOmdFLBBEqFcFX95LTWRwaPUIbffqq_i7KEAO_BGae0bgTLk7m6G3Q6iGewV0vjgvVgLeBVPmQAk_YKUkb7lB29fSNKZ1f14uX1GznYhaajoCGjhKToyeRgLnEPn32Lg/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-43.jpg" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysX3euxwZivf2GP5URPOinY73yIi1FP0NCuNLfflaCIZtPXk_vTHzEX2DJ4q4Ep-NgNn7v3k2H3qOtdJ4NVw_2altKvh_dhIswX0Ai0bQMSDvAqg69Rb-YXCI2kaS3dVpsWSEqjSq0uc/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysX3euxwZivf2GP5URPOinY73yIi1FP0NCuNLfflaCIZtPXk_vTHzEX2DJ4q4Ep-NgNn7v3k2H3qOtdJ4NVw_2altKvh_dhIswX0Ai0bQMSDvAqg69Rb-YXCI2kaS3dVpsWSEqjSq0uc/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-45.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the base of the pavilion, look out for grotesque faces that would hopefully not cause a nightmare.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1uhMdde2NOjFwYf7j6YGFuPqL_ULJ4aga1qi6XFxWR2B6IQhU8D28URggYoW-_FEmCWbgZMCTnW9g5ekptql2QBdg241JH-XfpGi5H7IIGeZ21SZjn9SuPN8Yk1xxT9e7RtyOCpSfdA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1uhMdde2NOjFwYf7j6YGFuPqL_ULJ4aga1qi6XFxWR2B6IQhU8D28URggYoW-_FEmCWbgZMCTnW9g5ekptql2QBdg241JH-XfpGi5H7IIGeZ21SZjn9SuPN8Yk1xxT9e7RtyOCpSfdA/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Face your
demons... The artist's controversial depiction of Buddhism with popular
culture and the unholy has provoked ire and attempts were even made to
have him banned from the Buddhist community.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gold Where No One has Gone Before</span></b><br />
<br />
White isn't the only colour to be found at Wat Rong Khun as a grand building in gold commands an equal measure of admiration. But the building is not a temple, prayer hall, or any religious structure. It is in fact, the toilet!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshyj5t9LvgMotf6jJkHe1bPe2fXJoNpdV6-5ttfx35Zc7rC1MRahZDXcrjDuu7HPe6mM9VnuvKakqYImWJ8lwCwcLCXvJ9SLhKM01Evbm7xkc8oA_uQEn2LwxFwQ96EY9oVTYY70hFZY/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshyj5t9LvgMotf6jJkHe1bPe2fXJoNpdV6-5ttfx35Zc7rC1MRahZDXcrjDuu7HPe6mM9VnuvKakqYImWJ8lwCwcLCXvJ9SLhKM01Evbm7xkc8oA_uQEn2LwxFwQ96EY9oVTYY70hFZY/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-48.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gold at such massive scale is quite a sight to behold!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qzB3ee1DOsw4eeQ0VBw0UnZHlHijGN9j9v7q55C2n8urhBYGbps7n0asagIfXpYtAFC_0Pekkcc2urLO0wJ1Ckqbead3IGA60qiZxKvxjpqVaYoiMLKQNJGW3gsrrSDfPXsU5tYZ8Jo/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qzB3ee1DOsw4eeQ0VBw0UnZHlHijGN9j9v7q55C2n8urhBYGbps7n0asagIfXpYtAFC_0Pekkcc2urLO0wJ1Ckqbead3IGA60qiZxKvxjpqVaYoiMLKQNJGW3gsrrSDfPXsU5tYZ8Jo/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-47.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gold at such massive scale is quite a sight to behold!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6cYjS1s1nY716FAjC5EETT5YHuxE9cFVGxk7dpiumoyhmnGtsYLoVHW91-yKtwx9ThzbTFdsD_hP3d5HvM21LRAlAYKsImUVD2BBPqiLQ_M0Gify80mwdPrFXxRgjXxBo6Kps_udXVU/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6cYjS1s1nY716FAjC5EETT5YHuxE9cFVGxk7dpiumoyhmnGtsYLoVHW91-yKtwx9ThzbTFdsD_hP3d5HvM21LRAlAYKsImUVD2BBPqiLQ_M0Gify80mwdPrFXxRgjXxBo6Kps_udXVU/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-46.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Exterior of the gold toilet at the White Temple.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmY6Ktr1y6XzeAr1OhB6CJ044roQic7ksaJwFhUNTyOsOwTK8u3FwhHoHBIG6_Yf5eo2vzKKyaQ9RLXsDRc2R2WXIFFYBIU_gdJf090W11F059oA-alct0j0cjf-0BWf77pD9v0Raeqc/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmY6Ktr1y6XzeAr1OhB6CJ044roQic7ksaJwFhUNTyOsOwTK8u3FwhHoHBIG6_Yf5eo2vzKKyaQ9RLXsDRc2R2WXIFFYBIU_gdJf090W11F059oA-alct0j0cjf-0BWf77pD9v0Raeqc/s1600/Wat-Rong-Khun-49.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interior of the male toilet... Makes pooping here a glam dunk. </span>A good release feels even more heavenly in this gold lavatory fit for royalty!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pano view
of Wat Rong Khun's site. As I took my leave at about 11:30am, more crowd
streamed in. So come earlier, best by 8am when the temple opens.</span></td></tr>
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<b>Address :</b> <span class="_Xbe">San Sai, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand</span><br />
<span class="_Xbe"><b>Opening Hours :</b> 8:00am - 6:00pm</span><br />
<span class="_Xbe"><b>Entrance Fee : </b>50bht (for foreigners), Free for Thai </span><br />
<br />Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-61850744530467051872016-11-07T02:21:00.000+08:002018-07-09T08:46:34.093+08:00Tokyo (Japan) - Splendours of Sakura at Shinjuku Gyeon<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 25 Mar 2016<br />
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One of the best places in Tokyo to immerse in the floral parade of cherry blossoms is Shinjuku Gyeon, a seemingly endless park at the heart of the city's commercial cum administrative district.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-01_zps7bqk65g2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-01_zps7bqk65g2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wooooooow... My t-shirt is all wide-eyed basking in the glory of explosive blossoms. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-02_zpsqjodjscz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-02_zpsqjodjscz.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sendagaya Gate... one of the 3 access gates to of Shinjuku Gyeon. Getting here took quite a bit of asking our way from Shinjuku Station as there weren't clear directional signs.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-11_zpsjl3jocvj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-11_zpsjl3jocvj.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunshine during a morning of spring, it's a beautiful meets wonderful kinda day.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-03_zpsrsk5d927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-03_zpsrsk5d927.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looks like an avenue of overturned octopuses with their arms twisting wildly in the air.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-05_zpsry0cbitp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-05_zpsry0cbitp.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The trees should receive Tony Awards for being so theatrical.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-04_zpslqpy9zik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-04_zpslqpy9zik.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feels romantic and magical. Best to visit with a special someone :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-08_zpstcqt8cgz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-08_zpstcqt8cgz.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blossoms and bottoms... lots of photogs exhibiting their posteriors for a special shot.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-23_zpsd3bdfiwj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-23_zpsd3bdfiwj.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Akan datang (coming soon).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-09_zpsbbyxhdte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-09_zpsbbyxhdte.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A big branch of joy!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-06_zpsgswpz0g0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-06_zpsgswpz0g0.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Time to monkey around and enjoy!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-07_zpsjjdbco3h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-07_zpsjjdbco3h.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enchanted forest creature spotted...?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-13_zpss2dtluz8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-13_zpss2dtluz8.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shinjuku Park has several species of sakuras that blooms from March to April. Actual blooming period depends on weather conditions and announcement of the predicted period is released by the <a href="https://n-kishou.com/corp/english/service/" target="_blank">Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC)</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-16_zpssaci5e5j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-16_zpssaci5e5j.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pale pink blossoms of the Somei Yoshino cherry. It is one of the most popular cherry trees grown all over Japan.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-10_zpsd0s6l9w5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-10_zpsd0s6l9w5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are several thematic gardens (Japanese, French and English) within Shinjuku Gyeon and a greenhouse with a collection of tropical and subtropical plants. We didn't get to see them all as took too much time to photograph sakuras. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-10a_zpsgkxuw9gz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-10a_zpsgkxuw9gz.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">First time encountering so many different sakura species in one place. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-12_zpsb9uctmlm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-12_zpsb9uctmlm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The most dramatic has to be the Shidarezakura, a.k.a. weeping or fountain cherry due to their drooping branches filled with blooms.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-14_zps1biclcbj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-14_zps1biclcbj.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few of the weeping cherry staggered together can resemble a waterfall.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-15_zpsn8drvnc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-15_zpsn8drvnc3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The weeping cherry tree explodes in a firework of pink.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-17_zps4ynxo2wx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-17_zps4ynxo2wx.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the distraction the cherry blossoms create, the other flowers are neglected, such the brilliant yellow dandelion bloom peeping out of a crack.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-18_zps1p5d7tml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-18_zps1p5d7tml.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tress fall in... hope they don't fall down.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-19_zpstfjiwarg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-19_zpstfjiwarg.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-24_zpsr85uo3wd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-24_zpsr85uo3wd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two of a kind.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-22_zps1iiip6hq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-22_zps1iiip6hq.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">看到眼花花。</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-25_zpszfmwmyne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-25_zpszfmwmyne.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">变成花痴了。Can really OD on sakura at Shinjuku Gyeon.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-20_zpsfxzwklct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-20_zpsfxzwklct.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Great memories have been made :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-21_zpshfqsdjoc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-21_zpshfqsdjoc.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">But they can wither and fade quickly like flowers. Cherry blossoms usually last about a week.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-26_zpshlhnju3z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Shinjuku-Gyeon-26_zpshlhnju3z.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spent more than half a day at the park without us realising. I've read on several online sites that Shinjuke Gyeon is a good place to enjoy sakura and it truly is. In fact, compared to the few other places I've been to in Tokyo while chasing sakuras, Shinjuku Gyeon is still the best!</span></td></tr>
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Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-49507943551171181782016-10-31T02:18:00.000+08:002017-10-31T20:23:02.586+08:00Johor Bahru (Malaysia) - Zoo Johor<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 15 Oct 2016<br />
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Taking a bite into the fringe of Johor Bahru's Taman Istana (Palace Park), Zoo Johor is that quick scratch to ease a <i>hakuna matata</i> itch with a collection of over 100 animal species native to Asia and as far flung as South America.<br />
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And the best part is, heeding the call of the wild at this zoo costs only RM2.00 per adult!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLZ4xYXXJADiOQAxSetCBewb7bFedn1ydkbh59lcIBL4Qwt2wyGynBNLfMmp0_7Szge58v2-u62dh_YHpKXtWN2EqQicl4NvkKb3Tjq1jympEbgNmUA2OZMlEz0xu5KzpajQhURvNPrw/s1600/Johor-Zoo-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLZ4xYXXJADiOQAxSetCBewb7bFedn1ydkbh59lcIBL4Qwt2wyGynBNLfMmp0_7Szge58v2-u62dh_YHpKXtWN2EqQicl4NvkKb3Tjq1jympEbgNmUA2OZMlEz0xu5KzpajQhURvNPrw/s1600/Johor-Zoo-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The new
entrance facade of Zoo Johor. The zoo has undergone some renovation
works in recent years and enhancements were still being carried out
during the time of my visit.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Getting to Zoo Johor</b></span><br />
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The easiest way to get here is to take a cab. I took a cab here from Johor Bahru City Square shopping mall that is opposite the Johor Bahru immigration checkpoint. The cab ride took under 10 minutes (smooth traffic day) with a metered fare of RM6.00.<br />
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<b><i>Con Cab... </i></b><br />
<br />
<i>The Indian cab driver that drove me was friendly but he tried to tell me some sob story so that I would pay him RM10.00, which according to him is the standard rate for short distance rides as taxis in JB don't use meters (that's not true as I've taken numerous cabs before and the drivers turned on their meters). The thing is, I've heard similar sob stories before... claims of being born with birth defect, having major diseases, have sick family members, etc, so that passengers would give more money to the driver out of sympathy. </i><br />
<br />
<i>I gave more than what was on the meter </i><i><i>a couple of times </i> before but after hearing these stories repeatedly, I now doubt the truth in them. It seems like the cab drivers in JB are mostly sick and at the brink of death. Should they even be driving when considering the safety of passengers? Anyway, I told the driver I've heard similar stories previously and he fell into an awkward silence before asking what have I heard. So I related how one told me he had lung disease and seeking treatment while another has a very sick son and yet another had heart surgery. This driver told me he had heart surgery too and was born with defects in his left leg. What defect, he didn't specify. I think dishonesty is the disease. </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FfKVUqopSLagHJ5RnxE7GQLJyN4YfCOC7yV-jrdGR8TG8OY-ZbdmwrXqLf-nHtJSUTBKQBojhRdJB_8-Jiz3iQIFPp-MhISvj1XHiYWNbN_7ZNx8FFh8_RMi8bJo2rPv8N15gGFphwU/s1600/Johor-Zoo-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FfKVUqopSLagHJ5RnxE7GQLJyN4YfCOC7yV-jrdGR8TG8OY-ZbdmwrXqLf-nHtJSUTBKQBojhRdJB_8-Jiz3iQIFPp-MhISvj1XHiYWNbN_7ZNx8FFh8_RMi8bJo2rPv8N15gGFphwU/s1600/Johor-Zoo-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Zoo Johor
is located along Jalan Gertak Merah opposite the grand looking Masjib
Jamek Sultan Abu Bakar mosque. Ticket is purchased at a booth behind the
main gate at RM2.00 (adult) and RM1.00 (child below 12yo).</span></td></tr>
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For the way back, I walked from Johor Zoo to Johor Bahru City Square and it took me about 35 minutes at a regular walking pace. So the zoo is pretty accessible and easy to get to in my opinion.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>One of the Oldest Zoo in Malaysia</b></span><br />
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Zoo Johor started out as a private wildlife menagerie of the royal family when it was established in 1928 before being handed over to the Johor government. The zoo began receiving public visitors in 1962 and the once royal 'animal garden' is today the state zoo and one of the oldest in Malaysia. And the age shows. Not in a flattering way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCOrMdsyUSmExtVeXFOjzJOMdtHF-PqVDb2scwvZjdG2rnQyWBU5RYgkXk6CGhSI8-vaikyfO3gw41WFZM2lrZy6gy8z_kjZOxyV6Q44dqinyh5hDvrjylPHwK3T6nAOm4Rg5Rmp9Gis/s1600/Johor-Zoo-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCOrMdsyUSmExtVeXFOjzJOMdtHF-PqVDb2scwvZjdG2rnQyWBU5RYgkXk6CGhSI8-vaikyfO3gw41WFZM2lrZy6gy8z_kjZOxyV6Q44dqinyh5hDvrjylPHwK3T6nAOm4Rg5Rmp9Gis/s1600/Johor-Zoo-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rejuvenation
works to Zoo Johor are evident especially for its entrance but beyond
that, most of the zoo looks in need of a makeover to update its design,
create more photo-worthy opportunities, and install proper information
boards to enable learning and better appreciation of the animals. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydH6BHaaY5mXyx-RhbRntRWKIO3eH8ElSTWhX1uOgZtATPV58hn8sZUPrtpbD89l-BMnmEfDhW9Lu7DzB1cb2KXJ5uv6ZQdnRk0IXwG_N0zn2hlGpl6ir85gDNLVTpRdnAm5VUlgGEpI/s1600/Johor-Zoo-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydH6BHaaY5mXyx-RhbRntRWKIO3eH8ElSTWhX1uOgZtATPV58hn8sZUPrtpbD89l-BMnmEfDhW9Lu7DzB1cb2KXJ5uv6ZQdnRk0IXwG_N0zn2hlGpl6ir85gDNLVTpRdnAm5VUlgGEpI/s1600/Johor-Zoo-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is
the enclosure for the White-Handed Gibbon, which is a palace compared to
disheveled enclosures some of the other animals are kept in. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZazsvpRWLQufCtZVUMK5kml4cXzeqWAgN-8JUAxvDpNHIRSrFBAk3zHd2ZmB7IwfsvFS-Dm8vk0Fcn3xtIjt1B2Aoa5k9FeoLGNC1pxaaqoRyVwV0SnJKeM7KCWLX6YZomt8RfqsLHi4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZazsvpRWLQufCtZVUMK5kml4cXzeqWAgN-8JUAxvDpNHIRSrFBAk3zHd2ZmB7IwfsvFS-Dm8vk0Fcn3xtIjt1B2Aoa5k9FeoLGNC1pxaaqoRyVwV0SnJKeM7KCWLX6YZomt8RfqsLHi4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For such a
petite zoo, I'm surprised at the number of F&B outlets available
here. So don't worry about being hungry or thirsty.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QhIddLbOT3aaoTF12L1rReKhuNGVYJ11hF5-Zs0nM56FJd6xI8g-4wQrY05PBZpxzZTA7bLDWr88iF4Ygn4PnPINKvE2Y6UiC4KTjjyOz4omvLlfs_lRkdHfSoITpvelWTt1hKwt-vE/s1600/Johor-Zoo-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QhIddLbOT3aaoTF12L1rReKhuNGVYJ11hF5-Zs0nM56FJd6xI8g-4wQrY05PBZpxzZTA7bLDWr88iF4Ygn4PnPINKvE2Y6UiC4KTjjyOz4omvLlfs_lRkdHfSoITpvelWTt1hKwt-vE/s1600/Johor-Zoo-17.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Top left
photo shows a series of monkey enclosures. I think they've just been
installed as they look new and closed to public during my visit.
Contrast that with the ageing directional pole and that pretty much sums
up the tug-of-war between the old and the new at JB Zoo.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUP0MmNfJvQAgOHQqz5x-gmlTfyPdRjbtXKGArv6S5VkYvWxHQRBibdEd5Ek7kMj8opc4zO68qmQSG9SB3-7jDVkcKTAJCUeVG4bEwiEZWFah4pWh-irWiSkyqMyO5h0Xxa44rMp0H44/s1600/Johor-Zoo-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUP0MmNfJvQAgOHQqz5x-gmlTfyPdRjbtXKGArv6S5VkYvWxHQRBibdEd5Ek7kMj8opc4zO68qmQSG9SB3-7jDVkcKTAJCUeVG4bEwiEZWFah4pWh-irWiSkyqMyO5h0Xxa44rMp0H44/s1600/Johor-Zoo-16.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hippopotamus
enclosure... will the wire fence hold if the two hippos in it decide to
go full throttle and hurl themselves towards the gate? </span></td></tr>
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I am not nitpicking, but conditions at Zoo Johor are rather abysmal. It looks more like a backyard animal shelter than a state-level zoo. Then again, entrance fee is only RM2.00 so can't ask for too much lah. At least the animals look well-fed and not begging to be put out of their misery.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Leather, Feather, Beak and Fur</span></b><br />
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Zoo Johor is not much of a looker, but the variety of animals found here is pretty commendable for its sparrow size. What I really liked is how close I can get to the animals because of the zoo's casual attitude towards safety. Most zoos have such a vast safety distance between people and animals that it is better to stay home and watch National Geographic.<br />
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That's why I heart Zoo Johor for the very rare opportunity to see the animals, some of them formidable, at close range with just a mere fence between us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWD6vypbKXCkunrKai1iTANmz2PBz5fquKEYh0r6lj92h7gXDLJX8wrrgD9kKcG8If6NV0DhLcgrzELNwNyotpDJAA1F5uHjbeOX_WnultqQaQK5oDNiB9cmzJmjoOxwol6nSQP_0KF8/s1600/Johor-Zoo-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWD6vypbKXCkunrKai1iTANmz2PBz5fquKEYh0r6lj92h7gXDLJX8wrrgD9kKcG8If6NV0DhLcgrzELNwNyotpDJAA1F5uHjbeOX_WnultqQaQK5oDNiB9cmzJmjoOxwol6nSQP_0KF8/s1600/Johor-Zoo-18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A wire
fence separated me from the hippopotamus but no luck to see the river
horse up close as they were content being submerged in their private
pool.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4eLtnB45DDpSgBkRmrldN-SJBhIEcLFGed55jGc-mj2fytSHzEKj-OywUVER9eOhiDmmLQgftBUy2mBCQBrUkYxnpq3kQTSDZgtFrPbYI_7UoyGmO-gYndTc-H8laLYv3x7MyqADMo0/s1600/Johor-Zoo-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4eLtnB45DDpSgBkRmrldN-SJBhIEcLFGed55jGc-mj2fytSHzEKj-OywUVER9eOhiDmmLQgftBUy2mBCQBrUkYxnpq3kQTSDZgtFrPbYI_7UoyGmO-gYndTc-H8laLYv3x7MyqADMo0/s1600/Johor-Zoo-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White-Handed
Gibbon... this fella was quite the acrobat during my visit. It hung and
swung on tree branches like no tomorrow. Such a wonderful treat
watching the care-free primate defy gravity. See video below...</span></td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw5pJpB-OLpkwxd9edO43tA--UbZ68qnW0wBvavzjuEyDCxarSqwZQjAH7F35iVQMX0JZgx9xpV9i_3U29Xgw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxTXMSORKQHAZiEJAcN982qKeadJoLMKf14SlLcKyHcMVfod548Mmo617TliEbiyeRXI6n1YoBkRDj5UsPmYrU1Aj3JZCYwRA89hDE8WryOHH9XubSMuxbbzCBQmwUOwofEETAFwI5Os/s1600/Johor-Zoo-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxTXMSORKQHAZiEJAcN982qKeadJoLMKf14SlLcKyHcMVfod548Mmo617TliEbiyeRXI6n1YoBkRDj5UsPmYrU1Aj3JZCYwRA89hDE8WryOHH9XubSMuxbbzCBQmwUOwofEETAFwI5Os/s1600/Johor-Zoo-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you know anything about this bird, the cassowary, this photo should shock you. Yes, I was <i>THAT</i>
close to this prehistoric-looking bird! The cassowary is ranked the
most dangerous bird in the world with the ability to slice and
disembowel a human with its sharp, dagger-like nail on its middle toe. <br /><br />Most
cassowary enclosures would put a huge gap between animal and visitors
but at Zoo Johor, I got face time with this magnificent bird that came
right up to the fence. It has such beautiful eyes with perfect lashes
that would make Maybelline cry. I was so thrilled to finally see the
cassowary eye-to-eye... and survived!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5q9wpdMvqyW_bzl0Avm0wcBmpZXtuCLyYhD7mn8L0MAPjin2uCua7oTmLgkg-5Bxh51HmbranGAEGmdqs21MTtArzWfCD4LFLJ9W099v6OzH2STq4qf0lRJjghTRL8RcSevYEW_Opcvc/s1600/Johor-Zoo-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5q9wpdMvqyW_bzl0Avm0wcBmpZXtuCLyYhD7mn8L0MAPjin2uCua7oTmLgkg-5Bxh51HmbranGAEGmdqs21MTtArzWfCD4LFLJ9W099v6OzH2STq4qf0lRJjghTRL8RcSevYEW_Opcvc/s1600/Johor-Zoo-19.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Neighbours of the cassowary included an emu, a close relative in the same ratite family, and a couple of crocodiles (<i>buaya</i> in Malay).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6OyLRZkMIMvQbCTgDsqkHOF3pIj0tCvp59I39r0xoYOrRsjAiAzm1wN8SVXvggIllKoZzP3pqiXFyomEEpP-R9fM54rN_brTA7T-n5g2uhqxWCBl3cFYN6abdQMONpdLH1k9kFla9AQ/s1600/Johor-Zoo-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6OyLRZkMIMvQbCTgDsqkHOF3pIj0tCvp59I39r0xoYOrRsjAiAzm1wN8SVXvggIllKoZzP3pqiXFyomEEpP-R9fM54rN_brTA7T-n5g2uhqxWCBl3cFYN6abdQMONpdLH1k9kFla9AQ/s1600/Johor-Zoo-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some see them as parent and child, others look upon them as wallet and handbag.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC4SB9u6fQCkvg0Hk07udyvs-nmE5WyTUWPxvQ_TvY_YEuL_aQEMgW0QbFBOM9rQkmZ6KHGVCrn2m1cSkngVyBAGhwVSSQ6LZe-yDvl8Tb5RZIeybqciuQE4j68jH9aVsMjg2TGspY6s/s1600/Johor-Zoo-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC4SB9u6fQCkvg0Hk07udyvs-nmE5WyTUWPxvQ_TvY_YEuL_aQEMgW0QbFBOM9rQkmZ6KHGVCrn2m1cSkngVyBAGhwVSSQ6LZe-yDvl8Tb5RZIeybqciuQE4j68jH9aVsMjg2TGspY6s/s1600/Johor-Zoo-20.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Open field zone for the watching and feeding of deers and ostriches... </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZjkRJ96LfGZFQjAsFLVl3nKLSojONkIkueLqAdf1G5PwN2X61hnFHGYobiW_7t_6xM7uU5p9uQjbxKQJYEd6WNstScvp9XQO6x4pVpWNeZX7R6JXq1E-n8_RXa4GCgLawz-gIbUGH8c/s1600/Johor-Zoo-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZjkRJ96LfGZFQjAsFLVl3nKLSojONkIkueLqAdf1G5PwN2X61hnFHGYobiW_7t_6xM7uU5p9uQjbxKQJYEd6WNstScvp9XQO6x4pVpWNeZX7R6JXq1E-n8_RXa4GCgLawz-gIbUGH8c/s1600/Johor-Zoo-21.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... but first, a <strike>steak</strike> stake out at the gaur enclosure. This beefy bull is also known as the Indian bison.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnJl-xGTMA3Y-4rzaQpdVboDa3UlADML_PdiHDogXqlh4rr5oAfcrOxSzZtYZPdSfWPB10KW5QEnQHaQ_VxXODhl7P7tN-wzJp4GGUc6W0mC3Ri5UaCtMkjHhWqMXCE8ew_zTqD44hl4/s1600/Nodding-Bull.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnJl-xGTMA3Y-4rzaQpdVboDa3UlADML_PdiHDogXqlh4rr5oAfcrOxSzZtYZPdSfWPB10KW5QEnQHaQ_VxXODhl7P7tN-wzJp4GGUc6W0mC3Ri5UaCtMkjHhWqMXCE8ew_zTqD44hl4/s1600/Nodding-Bull.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let's do the Macarena!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVb3JLjrzJaZvj-YAUW3JD7vbG7-oToCi_U6weLHauZWH8hGh2cYlUOTwoamjGxrvS9g3t4k0jj3m_DT7g2EvEs0BNt2GoRjd65zW1pWgH4ieEIDmMiKro04NvEXCSZ7FS2Cx_yZh-SU/s1600/Johor-Zoo-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVb3JLjrzJaZvj-YAUW3JD7vbG7-oToCi_U6weLHauZWH8hGh2cYlUOTwoamjGxrvS9g3t4k0jj3m_DT7g2EvEs0BNt2GoRjd65zW1pWgH4ieEIDmMiKro04NvEXCSZ7FS2Cx_yZh-SU/s1600/Johor-Zoo-23.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is
the ostrich and deer's version of conveyor belt "sushi" with visitors
moving back and forth along the raised boardwalk to feed the animals raw
<i>kangkong </i>(swamp spinach). A bunch of the vegetables cost RM2.00
and payment is by trust. You can drop the money into a collection box
next to the basket if you took a bunch of the leafy feed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYd8mzNgvHwpBAKqeUJfhmt2eHfT26UyXixjtE6jb1WFRyY0RzpQorMA71SUt5uYM4HZu_tynK-q0a_WtQG9OI6KYb2MhUTwhHJs8eQp0iDBVqbfJMOf9hFAwfQ3qjTAlyqWw1KHNL7uM/s1600/Johor-Zoo-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYd8mzNgvHwpBAKqeUJfhmt2eHfT26UyXixjtE6jb1WFRyY0RzpQorMA71SUt5uYM4HZu_tynK-q0a_WtQG9OI6KYb2MhUTwhHJs8eQp0iDBVqbfJMOf9hFAwfQ3qjTAlyqWw1KHNL7uM/s1600/Johor-Zoo-22.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saw quite a few kids just grabbed the <i>kangkong</i> and fed the animals without paying so I dropped a couple of ringgits into the box to help keep the food coming.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwuH6MnKi7nwsAA8V-w5eaS8cnU3xjHggxa13EGElt6nuJEtbTI-ytC2-uZvw4mlkx-rQuIKZOmWjb42L-gLpzQAU6fKRKRIFF_mgLXkigp2vxUpeJJwfouTSPmku__buXK4xbyd0-rY/s1600/Johor-Zoo-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwuH6MnKi7nwsAA8V-w5eaS8cnU3xjHggxa13EGElt6nuJEtbTI-ytC2-uZvw4mlkx-rQuIKZOmWjb42L-gLpzQAU6fKRKRIFF_mgLXkigp2vxUpeJJwfouTSPmku__buXK4xbyd0-rY/s1600/Johor-Zoo-24.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Would've been more fun if the deers can be fed on ground level.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxcD_3xLLC47L6dmkwsOxIqFxynYIyuO-aNKWCkVf1Ponqai2hAt8ZgKielwMZeq7gpL8rOmyArZ2NB3uGMirdnakYWIC3v5X4APrBOet2eoGygQp6Lto6dNd2WzQHuFNO1ezkF-9SI4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxcD_3xLLC47L6dmkwsOxIqFxynYIyuO-aNKWCkVf1Ponqai2hAt8ZgKielwMZeq7gpL8rOmyArZ2NB3uGMirdnakYWIC3v5X4APrBOet2eoGygQp6Lto6dNd2WzQHuFNO1ezkF-9SI4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-25.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I fawn you! Now it's your turn to <i>pah-sahng</i>. I go hide and you come find me okay? :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EFrGjzHhiTYD-quNHDKH332YpzrYSZv2PV8mHzQhMORrcNtVv0LIn7VTDZimpec-W4wsZFGvJFn_QKFQMWkampCezKTmPm52bIfTQa68lxlR-klfSCz4gnEQQQJ08PrknT5DkI03E-4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EFrGjzHhiTYD-quNHDKH332YpzrYSZv2PV8mHzQhMORrcNtVv0LIn7VTDZimpec-W4wsZFGvJFn_QKFQMWkampCezKTmPm52bIfTQa68lxlR-klfSCz4gnEQQQJ08PrknT5DkI03E-4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-27.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... then I realised the partner is right up against the cage. Both birds are female. Female Great Hornbills have white eyes while the eyes of the males are red. Should they wave a rainbow flag? </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYzSRwS5ZpuvMl5OOVP7uNL0QIPfvexC3nDwZPjkfbfFBeXhGTsg51tShyphenhyphenYUnkvTRgonae_lUbFrJpyUverd0950eIDQL2GH4tw409wQ5XyVXNyZcwJYjCWy1LyZcB0Qz8DV0JnKvcDA/s1600/Johor-Zoo-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYzSRwS5ZpuvMl5OOVP7uNL0QIPfvexC3nDwZPjkfbfFBeXhGTsg51tShyphenhyphenYUnkvTRgonae_lUbFrJpyUverd0950eIDQL2GH4tw409wQ5XyVXNyZcwJYjCWy1LyZcB0Qz8DV0JnKvcDA/s1600/Johor-Zoo-28.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spotted a
Great Hornbill by itself and thought it is unusual as hornbills in captivity are usually kept in pairs because the birds are monogamous and mate for life. I thought this lonely one is either single or its partner had died...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3gz_ifJadsR0JqQOetgO0ax5e2A5FDdjQaejuPZ2z045xIKSRX9kAN1lRONTBRNo3yf680ykjWnu8moiivReKmZ6tYIek2v8cUI2ASLkGmym9-LqGj0utbmPFVkYQ3E3cJwBC66rZJk/s1600/Johor-Zoo-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3gz_ifJadsR0JqQOetgO0ax5e2A5FDdjQaejuPZ2z045xIKSRX9kAN1lRONTBRNo3yf680ykjWnu8moiivReKmZ6tYIek2v8cUI2ASLkGmym9-LqGj0utbmPFVkYQ3E3cJwBC66rZJk/s1600/Johor-Zoo-26.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The crowd puller at Zoo Johor is the White Ear Marmoset. Everyone wants to get a photo of it and every kid (and adult) wants to tickle them through the cage. They are fearless of humans and seem to like the colour red. A guy held a cold bottle of red 100 Plus close to the cage and the tiny monkeys stuck out their tiny tongues to lick the condensation off the
bottles. Their cuteness is highly addictive!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDjvAkpOyBS88AnpNkXx277N77l_C5t82_yis7GAHodPV8gNZKegW9vX2GzN6kXOmMYqhl5F65sVAfwht4A-51H2z6bhFqq6VW_H5eJwQS6d8LsDe-oZuWyUnJ2dW7IYTsLwizz-bQp4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDjvAkpOyBS88AnpNkXx277N77l_C5t82_yis7GAHodPV8gNZKegW9vX2GzN6kXOmMYqhl5F65sVAfwht4A-51H2z6bhFqq6VW_H5eJwQS6d8LsDe-oZuWyUnJ2dW7IYTsLwizz-bQp4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Go nuts,
no pun intended, over this Grelim-looking critter that is the White Ear Marmoset (a.k.a. Common Marmoset). Meeting this cutie made coming to Zoo Johor totally worth it.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQRFxOqgbMd2qiwfmJui7Ic7Qh9DCNYA73kOCtDJtLc_kAWZheBy1fNyylhEy4zCYtlmc_B678p2nR_LMyWugLEDI4XMdZBCC2cTHToS152OIrb-xFyNsfsH-V0NBeYAzXQGCMUaOuiM/s1600/Johor-Zoo-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQRFxOqgbMd2qiwfmJui7Ic7Qh9DCNYA73kOCtDJtLc_kAWZheBy1fNyylhEy4zCYtlmc_B678p2nR_LMyWugLEDI4XMdZBCC2cTHToS152OIrb-xFyNsfsH-V0NBeYAzXQGCMUaOuiM/s1600/Johor-Zoo-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Barking Deer (a.k.a. Indian muntjac or red muntjac)... it is considered the oldest deer species. I love its very tribal facial markings.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0GwnyH66Sm5x4ZTNC0lm_E0tg-xURgTyIud4T3D4Ch4olZ3FpwwdrtA4F-rxdWB1YVXz_v_m4tPbPwE0W0XEncnyFqcHjgBigAPlSPb323hJRmA4DcXgFPfcbId4pRcSPWOjW5kJs3Q/s1600/Johor-Zoo-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0GwnyH66Sm5x4ZTNC0lm_E0tg-xURgTyIud4T3D4Ch4olZ3FpwwdrtA4F-rxdWB1YVXz_v_m4tPbPwE0W0XEncnyFqcHjgBigAPlSPb323hJRmA4DcXgFPfcbId4pRcSPWOjW5kJs3Q/s1600/Johor-Zoo-29.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is the fabled Madam White Snake really the Albino Python?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VemJ-WmcHWTSnRoufmcdWvt4aMM9-TrRcvvFHIQ19I51vIdNm5EVKPCxPz-fdsqJq0qQAI23qZ50km5c8QRfxd7812ss363Vc5ZMfhAxS379OwJe_yJkmdsJfBbw4lN1HphWUEyx2uY/s1600/Johor-Zoo-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VemJ-WmcHWTSnRoufmcdWvt4aMM9-TrRcvvFHIQ19I51vIdNm5EVKPCxPz-fdsqJq0qQAI23qZ50km5c8QRfxd7812ss363Vc5ZMfhAxS379OwJe_yJkmdsJfBbw4lN1HphWUEyx2uY/s1600/Johor-Zoo-37.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Need a hug?" asked the Reticulated Python.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCGkMCULFlSlvJqT9dl59GC1CIt61EPchPGJWSHfrH0WD-KbK6HZgtnKsr_qzQcZMd0nABMJsmbv6rhRUQBuep44hPkwJ47pUiHYMaz5eG4s0trbich7AbbmGhpcrk7Qp7T8EizB4l2g/s1600/Johor-Zoo-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCGkMCULFlSlvJqT9dl59GC1CIt61EPchPGJWSHfrH0WD-KbK6HZgtnKsr_qzQcZMd0nABMJsmbv6rhRUQBuep44hPkwJ47pUiHYMaz5eG4s0trbich7AbbmGhpcrk7Qp7T8EizB4l2g/s1600/Johor-Zoo-30.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've seen the fearsome King Cobra on documentaries but didn't realise just how big and long this nightmare is. Truly majestic.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0gamzR8EXYxdFj8WrcD5nt5Jse7Is3bGmRPxGT0QK7V_BQQf-pAtYfq-vAx_NKqDuZ1sRcy3qRrShIOplHyZ7SWjfCNUx_4Kob1bD-SgKVhzsgzFpS7qXBqmlC6ruSqfw4Luf-W7XWk/s1600/Johor-Zoo-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0gamzR8EXYxdFj8WrcD5nt5Jse7Is3bGmRPxGT0QK7V_BQQf-pAtYfq-vAx_NKqDuZ1sRcy3qRrShIOplHyZ7SWjfCNUx_4Kob1bD-SgKVhzsgzFpS7qXBqmlC6ruSqfw4Luf-W7XWk/s1600/Johor-Zoo-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanksgiving is in the air.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD-X5-CWb3rrTpazkNk5RVJt-LBmzBh8Zs5BCE0Pa6lNQucK2g_nUyUkWPSyTvp99-WptIaf2yXFGnSLQdTvx8MkjuEW2MqHDhjLdhINfvkitQpDM1BEw0cC63cbZMP50qhR2shoRBwI/s1600/Johor-Zoo-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD-X5-CWb3rrTpazkNk5RVJt-LBmzBh8Zs5BCE0Pa6lNQucK2g_nUyUkWPSyTvp99-WptIaf2yXFGnSLQdTvx8MkjuEW2MqHDhjLdhINfvkitQpDM1BEw0cC63cbZMP50qhR2shoRBwI/s1600/Johor-Zoo-32.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Camel pretending to be a giraffe.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrHxX7XhtglpZ-TZJS3utPskhbBGg07mXDpHdRRZPaMbu-WEbFTHC5mudek6o3I2dViSGUj66kLuIVZoXXD9RdBkWLmjYiN5GQyaJiBWcnNVv5tw6nIc28Cc6pnsqo_g9E0fd-e_Dfd0/s1600/Johor-Zoo-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrHxX7XhtglpZ-TZJS3utPskhbBGg07mXDpHdRRZPaMbu-WEbFTHC5mudek6o3I2dViSGUj66kLuIVZoXXD9RdBkWLmjYiN5GQyaJiBWcnNVv5tw6nIc28Cc6pnsqo_g9E0fd-e_Dfd0/s1600/Johor-Zoo-31.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another opportunity for a close encounter :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdhyphenhypheniEfDQ7lpMMtP3fMQjp0H4VvY_-c8CBkmHMIXfESB80jTqZ22dQZ9vae7DtrBTswiRYOlCt2bbNmRRPiG21wlFlx-Lj9QA43iWPh6ziu_Ot6qgtrN0ThRlOMkhmDr6LqyaTRJ4LMs/s1600/Johor-Zoo-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdhyphenhypheniEfDQ7lpMMtP3fMQjp0H4VvY_-c8CBkmHMIXfESB80jTqZ22dQZ9vae7DtrBTswiRYOlCt2bbNmRRPiG21wlFlx-Lj9QA43iWPh6ziu_Ot6qgtrN0ThRlOMkhmDr6LqyaTRJ4LMs/s1600/Johor-Zoo-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tapir is has such a smooth and featureless face.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLErrKJWVWH4LHsVhccJ4_czLEd7H7T1NFzGz6balfD4T1zPxL7UJC46AtaD1oQP31xkpGh2MD1k1YSM6pXiR9J3GS6b42gHGCMLQuvnjyYg-fGmH5pVfYmzHllIv1jJS3TLX0mvpijdE/s1600/Johor-Zoo-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLErrKJWVWH4LHsVhccJ4_czLEd7H7T1NFzGz6balfD4T1zPxL7UJC46AtaD1oQP31xkpGh2MD1k1YSM6pXiR9J3GS6b42gHGCMLQuvnjyYg-fGmH5pVfYmzHllIv1jJS3TLX0mvpijdE/s1600/Johor-Zoo-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Chinese zodiac! From the missing face paint, it is obvious which tiger gets lots of heavy petting. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpW74OTvIx-2GsFrMMWuKmRS3V5slOS6W_4KLgZiWrxZNltw0bKoelSee5u6F7LdqszHFrm0cTDeGC_w63bxHsRlIaOlKAJByQbYzI9c3h1nytXFCYjQ6m6RZ6YhisXpPX_ISCUaD5eY/s1600/Johor-Zoo-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpW74OTvIx-2GsFrMMWuKmRS3V5slOS6W_4KLgZiWrxZNltw0bKoelSee5u6F7LdqszHFrm0cTDeGC_w63bxHsRlIaOlKAJByQbYzI9c3h1nytXFCYjQ6m6RZ6YhisXpPX_ISCUaD5eY/s1600/Johor-Zoo-33.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tiger was pacing up and down the enclosure non-stop as if it was doing yard time in a jail. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIunbVyG7vuy6N1RDGfRFOGGNTXXTNzV6uuP4h7Ggkxn_24lRRnwLMnmMYgmr5S1GsrRQjgs118Y509dDUCpGKn93ltkrC4Svn80Cm-g-0slqo9BoBqCWuG812J61eSu30p0OVES7J73o/s1600/Johor-Zoo-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIunbVyG7vuy6N1RDGfRFOGGNTXXTNzV6uuP4h7Ggkxn_24lRRnwLMnmMYgmr5S1GsrRQjgs118Y509dDUCpGKn93ltkrC4Svn80Cm-g-0slqo9BoBqCWuG812J61eSu30p0OVES7J73o/s1600/Johor-Zoo-34.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tiger enclosure looks like a gladiator arena doesn't it?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nNnl-Dc79cothgmOYtu5DBQ4dexJfvYAnYkRzey8WIRMOZfI701tLqwBsKX-Dji0yA65PPaEnU_v_nHXCx7N3fJonGKABYRc_L3n0n1T_rQMmNgXCcFoPPCfG0rMbUk7YcIl7txnWjU/s1600/Johor-Zoo-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nNnl-Dc79cothgmOYtu5DBQ4dexJfvYAnYkRzey8WIRMOZfI701tLqwBsKX-Dji0yA65PPaEnU_v_nHXCx7N3fJonGKABYRc_L3n0n1T_rQMmNgXCcFoPPCfG0rMbUk7YcIl7txnWjU/s1600/Johor-Zoo-35.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally the beast took a short rest after a failed attempt to mount the missus.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQALipysdm-OItCiljCBFuep1zbroxGWj1mSKUsbisX2F0PI9iAGFd2gKT5GVzhfMQAs2m2J1m6Ps3M8skb4bkTqaLnlBL3hK8JbjSGQj_EfqLTIznG4_LImdwbD4dkyF_4I2c5h0wJI/s1600/Johor-Zoo-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQALipysdm-OItCiljCBFuep1zbroxGWj1mSKUsbisX2F0PI9iAGFd2gKT5GVzhfMQAs2m2J1m6Ps3M8skb4bkTqaLnlBL3hK8JbjSGQj_EfqLTIznG4_LImdwbD4dkyF_4I2c5h0wJI/s1600/Johor-Zoo-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Around the
lower wall of the enclosure are narrow slits through the concrete where
you can peep in for a close-up of the tiger. I was really lucky to get
this shot of it looking through the hole into my camera!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqlV851R0zykhA1P_x9eItSZeEQODnYNCefPDnj62ishyphenhyphencJRz4d6EqOkAvnvyYlqJXaOLqMMMEvTOg-19Ld6IOWc54O6qwKZ_PtOq9hQsXiSax_KqFCqNY10ryClKHHefdp7qDcpaDV4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqlV851R0zykhA1P_x9eItSZeEQODnYNCefPDnj62ishyphenhyphencJRz4d6EqOkAvnvyYlqJXaOLqMMMEvTOg-19Ld6IOWc54O6qwKZ_PtOq9hQsXiSax_KqFCqNY10ryClKHHefdp7qDcpaDV4/s1600/Johor-Zoo-41.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A rather interesting feature of Zoo Johor is a roof-top zone that links up the tiger, lion, cow, chimpanzee and bear enclosures. The big cats were napping away from the tropical heat. Definitely bring an umbrella when visiting the zoo.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTizbxenwXmDdDxVijcFy3cQmkA5YTYBWJyKSVeR_R3i_IMoHXfrBBsgu_Jm_yz4J9CxuLvUXur5Za8qgQ2hTBqqVOJTkVoy5PUxCalikwxlJqNv96XQS-C6tBmiEbNe0n1Q-kSzBjw0/s1600/Johor-Zoo-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTizbxenwXmDdDxVijcFy3cQmkA5YTYBWJyKSVeR_R3i_IMoHXfrBBsgu_Jm_yz4J9CxuLvUXur5Za8qgQ2hTBqqVOJTkVoy5PUxCalikwxlJqNv96XQS-C6tBmiEbNe0n1Q-kSzBjw0/s1600/Johor-Zoo-36.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Moo... They look so dorky cute.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmbHpkFNFqmhApgXc2S-iy8ec8G9AnWZkbh_YP8Jad2V3XGnXQ9P7MdL9iErbzRqB5sc4eI0wiJ0JYjEDW58Mf6bx3Dm7ZHogKoTM9g0MEnpXFuXOxj3BenLtPH409G8U7tTWHHPawVc/s1600/Johor-Zoo-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmbHpkFNFqmhApgXc2S-iy8ec8G9AnWZkbh_YP8Jad2V3XGnXQ9P7MdL9iErbzRqB5sc4eI0wiJ0JYjEDW58Mf6bx3Dm7ZHogKoTM9g0MEnpXFuXOxj3BenLtPH409G8U7tTWHHPawVc/s1600/Johor-Zoo-40.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sun bear begging for a treat. Refrain from feeding the animals and if you're going with kids, ensure that they don't throw things into the animal pens. Saw a number a kids throw tissues and carton drink boxes at the animals and littering the place they live.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxRxE4PwQv8NDIbOi1rf7CUG5iIGp_d_U-az6lCLzuLKfJNIZg_zN9hKhjcfpG3rU9xd9oDGMNlGf4DbkEYCUl9_ax93JkFSN-S1Njdxq24Lche2TfcbkECzNC8VuSWeTISjTy0HS9vo/s1600/Johor-Zoo-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxRxE4PwQv8NDIbOi1rf7CUG5iIGp_d_U-az6lCLzuLKfJNIZg_zN9hKhjcfpG3rU9xd9oDGMNlGf4DbkEYCUl9_ax93JkFSN-S1Njdxq24Lche2TfcbkECzNC8VuSWeTISjTy0HS9vo/s1600/Johor-Zoo-39.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This chimp has the filthy habit of poking his finger into his nostril, dig around a bit, and then sticking the same finger into his mouth... <i>*gag*</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCA2iGxuhi3fzuM0PPgSLONk6-tp0JJaGWXQSLIjwqI79Nl3RGlAaslDxGnZI4Cq3uxPFCAUc25joqQHyWwLW3iQXz5gzCOL_vMsgpwYMc-h6JIQm_uLspgS4iTyOVrHsF_0gz1tIigg/s1600/Johor-Zoo-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCA2iGxuhi3fzuM0PPgSLONk6-tp0JJaGWXQSLIjwqI79Nl3RGlAaslDxGnZI4Cq3uxPFCAUc25joqQHyWwLW3iQXz5gzCOL_vMsgpwYMc-h6JIQm_uLspgS4iTyOVrHsF_0gz1tIigg/s1600/Johor-Zoo-38.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">They may not be free, but they are worry-free.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9DLZAN3jsbvYBeBwRyR9TLDbHHScsLzpXNmAwiuLypwMI0iaGLjo0h6mBanc9wKlsQXYBBULyDbGBfXMirZJ0FVYwIJmOERj00Vmj326dUpbggAEvDZDm4Wg4XpK5osDt29jmCG30K8/s1600/Johor-Zoo-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9DLZAN3jsbvYBeBwRyR9TLDbHHScsLzpXNmAwiuLypwMI0iaGLjo0h6mBanc9wKlsQXYBBULyDbGBfXMirZJ0FVYwIJmOERj00Vmj326dUpbggAEvDZDm4Wg4XpK5osDt29jmCG30K8/s1600/Johor-Zoo-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What species is this behind a cage?</span></td></tr>
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Although Zoo Johor is rather compact, I spent almost 3 hours here getting face time with the residents. I didn't think much about the zoo at first because of the rundown conditions but after I looked past the lack of aesthetics and focused on the animals, I began to enjoy the opportunities for close observations and encounters.<br />
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Besides, the zoo is located not too far from the JB checkpoint and easily accessible. Plus, may I mention again, it's only RM2.00 to visit!Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-28772995406848534622016-10-05T01:39:00.000+08:002017-11-05T23:43:42.361+08:00Tokyo (Japan) - Harajuku : Playground for Japan's Pop Couture<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 27 Mar 2016<br />
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When it comes to outrageous styles and flashy fashion, Tokyo's Harajuku district is Asia's epicenter of all that is weird and wonderful. So a chance to visit this trendsetting enclave is not-to-be-missed during my virgin trip to the Japanese capital! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFyzYWc2wzpgLaWFcxSq9Nkh3oCm3iyArC6PmKZGK6FIFTjtor1t6B6T4OZTeTnE8jVJX1Xbv4LqGK5jgS1IJAQVpc0TtWO4itMiuJQahwZhZE1oG5vF_vGSANQADUiU_gwKgYs5GcgQ/s1600/Harajuku-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFyzYWc2wzpgLaWFcxSq9Nkh3oCm3iyArC6PmKZGK6FIFTjtor1t6B6T4OZTeTnE8jVJX1Xbv4LqGK5jgS1IJAQVpc0TtWO4itMiuJQahwZhZE1oG5vF_vGSANQADUiU_gwKgYs5GcgQ/s1600/Harajuku-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not much of a fashionista but since we are visiting the hip Harajuku, have to put in an attempt at being trendy. This look can pass? :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty83yTnYTC1T3996z5lF7-zXbqmGVnPFaJiJZEq5Ht0ySB6UajZUsp4-y88sKU5IFP7mnYfh90vsHwxFfiaCURSgAVp2aH20tQYLIm1iB2HCXJgqonQVyOLyoPLy2eZmCVfql6i9l1LM/s1600/Harajuku-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty83yTnYTC1T3996z5lF7-zXbqmGVnPFaJiJZEq5Ht0ySB6UajZUsp4-y88sKU5IFP7mnYfh90vsHwxFfiaCURSgAVp2aH20tQYLIm1iB2HCXJgqonQVyOLyoPLy2eZmCVfql6i9l1LM/s1600/Harajuku-00.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">More than just the name of a place, "Harajuku" has evolved into a term that means a distinct, dramatic Japanese fashion style that is creatively expressive.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkmMGuXWpooM_xhDdwGPiTxpLR-9zb0lJv66kjnm81lh2WUXL9DsHxGh2W-o2Gd5_E0R8k71KfOw8zX6mgTIgbPCur-8UAIe26qmLuAsh6S6shJZ48wiO7Lw3Hm-TfaIQPrYCdAoZv50/s1600/Harajuku-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkmMGuXWpooM_xhDdwGPiTxpLR-9zb0lJv66kjnm81lh2WUXL9DsHxGh2W-o2Gd5_E0R8k71KfOw8zX6mgTIgbPCur-8UAIe26qmLuAsh6S6shJZ48wiO7Lw3Hm-TfaIQPrYCdAoZv50/s1600/Harajuku-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the entrance to the famous Harajuku street that is the style mecca for teenage fashionistas...</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dDHUId0xmC4y1U5yLAApv1FLoswgtnsUGZkxnYfNjkp2SRzyutI3l-S_ZmaTejZY-WVuhBg2I93qA3ii9hpKNLtzZ1O9tZwzctH3QhE36SBEJN0J1RpokMRThXHT4GiowarV3XRxEzM/s1600/Harajuku-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dDHUId0xmC4y1U5yLAApv1FLoswgtnsUGZkxnYfNjkp2SRzyutI3l-S_ZmaTejZY-WVuhBg2I93qA3ii9hpKNLtzZ1O9tZwzctH3QhE36SBEJN0J1RpokMRThXHT4GiowarV3XRxEzM/s1600/Harajuku-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... and this hip-hop grandma. I applaud her for not giving a fuck about what the world thinks and sashaying in those killer-height platforms!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRs2HNGPXyQhODDyt3rc4nqpUq51SuUtEki6e8I86S0WrL-FgaaK-BQ5fHyKFL1ZMURbygkW37m0PLJUa_YEp41_COH_-2MpaOF6rkhrhvFs_EwscqnjWN3wevRTMfcaLBICFPSAQh87Y/s1600/Harajuku-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRs2HNGPXyQhODDyt3rc4nqpUq51SuUtEki6e8I86S0WrL-FgaaK-BQ5fHyKFL1ZMURbygkW37m0PLJUa_YEp41_COH_-2MpaOF6rkhrhvFs_EwscqnjWN3wevRTMfcaLBICFPSAQh87Y/s1600/Harajuku-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Harajuku is an open outdoor playground for cosplayers who became the district's unofficial tourist attractions. Came across this "Strawberry Shortcake" who was a walking rainbow amongst the crowd.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfH5MXvYOlRSTjJTiaAMTYckUADMteCwRAGa13-dk6w5sxEBafMBsl5U6bH0Rw2YZne1SKIneWhEEzQjng-X1shoVJt01stWLWBKCdCakavmkunz6Ybc100HvRbWKlGNz263p5G9H2uM/s1600/Harajuku-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfH5MXvYOlRSTjJTiaAMTYckUADMteCwRAGa13-dk6w5sxEBafMBsl5U6bH0Rw2YZne1SKIneWhEEzQjng-X1shoVJt01stWLWBKCdCakavmkunz6Ybc100HvRbWKlGNz263p5G9H2uM/s1600/Harajuku-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another cosplay apparition that proves everyday is Halloween in Harajuku. I think it is a fabulous idea to have an area where people who like to play dress up can go to any day in their costumes. It sure adds spice to life.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaVKPGogK_7K6jrkE5xSEWM0eillCdDGNwiBOqlqo3xyEUwOa_16IVwJ_AxrTcRkO-CntIbz_WJCSQeWby1t98ENV2YdGpIQj51QuDX2gsfsE6ddF6_-r2XtcxWRKCu3vzAgLXNNi2MM/s1600/Harajuku-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaVKPGogK_7K6jrkE5xSEWM0eillCdDGNwiBOqlqo3xyEUwOa_16IVwJ_AxrTcRkO-CntIbz_WJCSQeWby1t98ENV2YdGpIQj51QuDX2gsfsE6ddF6_-r2XtcxWRKCu3vzAgLXNNi2MM/s1600/Harajuku-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I came to Harajuku expecting to see a lot of outrageously dressed people and cosplayers but there weren't many. We came on a Sunday, which is supposed to be the day where cosplayers are most likely to appear, but saw only two. <i>*disappointed*</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZty3EfjnL24_dWWoBSvQHgqvqb8-dBa1PZt6hyphenhyphenLXJsfEbkdZ461LhzS5FN6uYbcNOWCV4onjVbRhAGKG1J2lo4kKc8BxrVRrZERDEEioBa6LNE8_lPh1v-umzw0bLcgTgWW46nJnfgFI/s1600/Harajuku-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZty3EfjnL24_dWWoBSvQHgqvqb8-dBa1PZt6hyphenhyphenLXJsfEbkdZ461LhzS5FN6uYbcNOWCV4onjVbRhAGKG1J2lo4kKc8BxrVRrZERDEEioBa6LNE8_lPh1v-umzw0bLcgTgWW46nJnfgFI/s1600/Harajuku-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you are looking for clothes, Harajuku is the wrong place to come to as most shops don't sell clothes. They sell outlandish, theatrical, head-turning everyday garb that borders on being costumes.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikImZiRGladzIx41YHdXQ7WyuxEoSW1jszoUma4MZXeuG2-z-WWbflKMnxtPZKVbngdKalAwZcPp2I-QGrkgy5P-2J_Q7kGtqvVMK3JRXrgojnqkgxKO5EGGig5qIqlAT9ja_bMUYe5qE/s1600/Harajuku-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikImZiRGladzIx41YHdXQ7WyuxEoSW1jszoUma4MZXeuG2-z-WWbflKMnxtPZKVbngdKalAwZcPp2I-QGrkgy5P-2J_Q7kGtqvVMK3JRXrgojnqkgxKO5EGGig5qIqlAT9ja_bMUYe5qE/s1600/Harajuku-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Killer marketing with bad sign language.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng4T75uoA06dfPUW9O6YZrSYZfk1p2uLsc_ibQIZj1yZ1iu6EcfiPCnbOZhUqNwXdx0nEcLhdrV5uv7GTt_RwUg89NegmPm08PfSy-1IbfJlCZLgodzZBmav7VQr0UN-FC5Z4DHBYCSc/s1600/Harajuku-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng4T75uoA06dfPUW9O6YZrSYZfk1p2uLsc_ibQIZj1yZ1iu6EcfiPCnbOZhUqNwXdx0nEcLhdrV5uv7GTt_RwUg89NegmPm08PfSy-1IbfJlCZLgodzZBmav7VQr0UN-FC5Z4DHBYCSc/s1600/Harajuku-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saw a lot of people queuing for this snack so decided to try. Pretty good but not queue-worthy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UXMF7eHRH12f_2VqB1CD_0n5lAztz_S03mOJtvTc-VLJp2cVF9hRYyKRfmzJ8fXzut6lMX9IhXxfPs56rWAmbCHxVxw4fEClzi7Jj1eZs6bQG9BRcTksY14nKhXKQRK_tknVnEQw09Y/s1600/Harajuku-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UXMF7eHRH12f_2VqB1CD_0n5lAztz_S03mOJtvTc-VLJp2cVF9hRYyKRfmzJ8fXzut6lMX9IhXxfPs56rWAmbCHxVxw4fEClzi7Jj1eZs6bQG9BRcTksY14nKhXKQRK_tknVnEQw09Y/s1600/Harajuku-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The amount of people at Harajuku on a weekend is insane.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ibWsFNsPDc6Ke9u7p3zm3riz5o5WuJaYbXaTflDYH0EenV4ND-7bTG2IRdZV8h5_yT7wQkS11F7h-WFo5VdPKcVrAWINZ_mbY21r1Dz4ZwwH8IuEjKAbJzDDQDZZfxdClx8jTcCxkWE/s1600/Harajuku-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ibWsFNsPDc6Ke9u7p3zm3riz5o5WuJaYbXaTflDYH0EenV4ND-7bTG2IRdZV8h5_yT7wQkS11F7h-WFo5VdPKcVrAWINZ_mbY21r1Dz4ZwwH8IuEjKAbJzDDQDZZfxdClx8jTcCxkWE/s1600/Harajuku-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Passed the tight shopping street, I found myself at an area lined with avant garde boutique shops.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lXNzwcLunkYKpOBXA-LRCMez5NzCH0RxbrcKtE6b4Gc4DRf9KyHNFqxwIqBfA1Vy8QAtMEdD50-Qw990xVmLHJuJZq7Bokd7L7vxXtuxejixX1us_D06ZjjM6Z-anNSCAXpGZN3dLtM/s1600/Harajuku-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lXNzwcLunkYKpOBXA-LRCMez5NzCH0RxbrcKtE6b4Gc4DRf9KyHNFqxwIqBfA1Vy8QAtMEdD50-Qw990xVmLHJuJZq7Bokd7L7vxXtuxejixX1us_D06ZjjM6Z-anNSCAXpGZN3dLtM/s1600/Harajuku-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No idea where I am within the Harajuku district but laid eyes on this interesting piece of architecture.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWnjBStMUhsnS4_35TyUxvO_hBllB9rs0m-8gox8QpnfeAi8wlaPqLHQbB_q-9DKo1nhJZYnIPg0hxG_BKkpJubotrmz96D-t7h7BEo0oyYHoHmgLfuSr78TkOVdn_1PZk7DA1NFV5qA/s1600/Harajuku-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWnjBStMUhsnS4_35TyUxvO_hBllB9rs0m-8gox8QpnfeAi8wlaPqLHQbB_q-9DKo1nhJZYnIPg0hxG_BKkpJubotrmz96D-t7h7BEo0oyYHoHmgLfuSr78TkOVdn_1PZk7DA1NFV5qA/s1600/Harajuku-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A floral detox from all that fashion spotting.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiBJFCgsVix231GZ_iyvxc3MUJDPb3ZdL2ULBpgPVZSzIhLrQn6XGkHBrDiZqcCYAJsOW7pjDtla4sZewsN8TyGTMf9d5ZisXvB7WXcPOYOsMKVM8VeAl6-sT16jZUQFfsGg3Pokzgrw/s1600/Harajuku-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiBJFCgsVix231GZ_iyvxc3MUJDPb3ZdL2ULBpgPVZSzIhLrQn6XGkHBrDiZqcCYAJsOW7pjDtla4sZewsN8TyGTMf9d5ZisXvB7WXcPOYOsMKVM8VeAl6-sT16jZUQFfsGg3Pokzgrw/s1600/Harajuku-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The more subdued and less crazy side of Harajuku...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBFOXT9EiXY3Enq6aLRaxla3D-Z71hmDHbpLh9Ydlnv-PMU9QmgBnbyB_yxSlpR-kvdq9ut94LnNuQn0yaATA1evzjNTDLN2xvLoRYNf5ZV1AM7QC_7dLOcDU1DMvjyl74eWrg_t6GLE/s1600/Harajuku-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBFOXT9EiXY3Enq6aLRaxla3D-Z71hmDHbpLh9Ydlnv-PMU9QmgBnbyB_yxSlpR-kvdq9ut94LnNuQn0yaATA1evzjNTDLN2xvLoRYNf5ZV1AM7QC_7dLOcDU1DMvjyl74eWrg_t6GLE/s1600/Harajuku-16.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... but the overall crowd is still pretty insane at the birthplace of Japan's pop couture.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My visit was over sooner than I expected and even though I didn't come across as many as the fashionably liberated as I would like to, it was still pretty magic to have walked down the legendary fashion district that has revolutionised street style.<br />
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Now I'm inspired to be even bolder and more experimental with my choice of <span class="st" data-hveid="57" data-ved="0ahUKEwjC7-KhuqXXAhVDJ5QKHYVvC0YQ4EUIOTAB">prêt-à-porter!</span> Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-82411182242566243412016-10-03T01:22:00.000+08:002017-11-04T22:22:40.436+08:00Tokyo (Japan) - Ueno Park & Akihabara<b>Date of Exploration : </b>28 Mar 2016<br />
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After Asakusa Temple, we continued our exploration of the northeastern districts of Tokyo with a visit to Ueno Park and Akihabara. As all these places of interest are rather nearby, planning to see all of them together as a day excursion would save a lot of travelling time.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ueno Park - An Attraction of Attractions</b></span><br />
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From Tokyo's iconic Asakusa Temple, we took a short train ride to Ueno
Park. Other than being a scenic green escape from the concrete of Tokyo, the park is also home to a zoo (Ueno Zoo), several museums (such as the Tokyo National Museum, Western Museum of Art, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, etc), shrines and themed landscapes.<br />
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With so many attractions within its grounds, Ueno Park makes for a very rewarding visit that could demand a full-day trip just to explore most of what it has to offer. But perhaps what the park is most famous for is its reputation as one of the best places for <i>hanami </i>(appreciating cherry blossoms) during the sakura season<br />
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I came to Japan specially for the cherry blossom season so Ueno Park was on my list of must-visit places to revel in the floral spectacle. Ueno Park is also a favourite choice for hanami parties for the locals because it is the only park in Tokyo where the consumption of alcohol is allowed. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAATcZdBT08zBSRbtXnALso0-v-mtBqDu3TCb7OY8p-NFo1nJiYvjk7O5GS4HfujJENC1Dl_TLP-0s-OsJD8j96ulYPs3VC-bLdnTRl3IyKEkxV8rKfSB-bWm3DUBv5qEXNXg6T8StZEM/s1600/Ueno-Park-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAATcZdBT08zBSRbtXnALso0-v-mtBqDu3TCb7OY8p-NFo1nJiYvjk7O5GS4HfujJENC1Dl_TLP-0s-OsJD8j96ulYPs3VC-bLdnTRl3IyKEkxV8rKfSB-bWm3DUBv5qEXNXg6T8StZEM/s1600/Ueno-Park-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Being a
hotspot for viewing sakura, Ueno Park gets a lot of footfall with people
numbering as countless as the flowers in bloom. To avoid crowds and
have much of the park to yourself, the best time to visit is apparently
before 10am during the sakura season.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jpEUSI-f3NKQ0oKXUZzCK2II3WqmkBTM-JxbkEum5VAukAPz0HKUHRO4xJYe7w9ZX1sQQEUJA4Uh6OOv-S_voF96cycYjPVwOHsEnXsrVgtJyZvN6cJPQKTQz9P5UWmAPfvqLWlG3ac/s1600/Ueno-Park-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jpEUSI-f3NKQ0oKXUZzCK2II3WqmkBTM-JxbkEum5VAukAPz0HKUHRO4xJYe7w9ZX1sQQEUJA4Uh6OOv-S_voF96cycYjPVwOHsEnXsrVgtJyZvN6cJPQKTQz9P5UWmAPfvqLWlG3ac/s1600/Ueno-Park-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We arrived
late at Ueno Park (at around 3pm) but early for the sakura season. Most
of the trees were still budding and the flowers were not in full bloom
yet.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29IeMwAYlK_y8_VuK0MRAlRpKDfrVFDSwm6NKw4FWyp_YzfVlatD-2zsNjG2awnzPETTw3rwQRgCyElbUbrCKRmHutXsL2FrVOa2JJ3srfIZwo2PObppiq2PCo1SqVNWVX97unND24CM/s1600/Ueno-Park-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29IeMwAYlK_y8_VuK0MRAlRpKDfrVFDSwm6NKw4FWyp_YzfVlatD-2zsNjG2awnzPETTw3rwQRgCyElbUbrCKRmHutXsL2FrVOa2JJ3srfIZwo2PObppiq2PCo1SqVNWVX97unND24CM/s1600/Ueno-Park-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We passed
by the quaint Kiyomizu Kannado (Goddess of Mercy Temple) sitting atop a
hill. As we did not have a lot of time before nightfall, we rushed
through our visit of Ueno Park and did not visit the various attractions
and points of interest within its vicinity. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQYUsPHIBnB3jw60c5NodL-B22r-RS8uEfep5DLBDqJOfGBMmrewV4iPf1hNtHMZ4Yv8OJoMOzYRNy6ldkZTkNbbi1etMLee-7h5_bfL2bs930DAyK5WDDoNv3nrCXn49Wzf60jqaIWQ/s1600/Ueno-Park-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQYUsPHIBnB3jw60c5NodL-B22r-RS8uEfep5DLBDqJOfGBMmrewV4iPf1hNtHMZ4Yv8OJoMOzYRNy6ldkZTkNbbi1etMLee-7h5_bfL2bs930DAyK5WDDoNv3nrCXn49Wzf60jqaIWQ/s1600/Ueno-Park-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can imagine how spectacular it would be when the floral canopies are in full bloom.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfmm8AYvsV1b76xpOCeWiPMp6txSDt4EhlYnqpfb35Q85WNtrvhgO9hnHREnF1VFgAFmDNmJJuS601vhoW6QIqe1MU07OaWAzMgvJlnJ_WgS2CvGZx3UyGYNracniCjq9RspZ6VB8ylo/s1600/Ueno-Park-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfmm8AYvsV1b76xpOCeWiPMp6txSDt4EhlYnqpfb35Q85WNtrvhgO9hnHREnF1VFgAFmDNmJJuS601vhoW6QIqe1MU07OaWAzMgvJlnJ_WgS2CvGZx3UyGYNracniCjq9RspZ6VB8ylo/s1600/Ueno-Park-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
different species of cherry blossoms with slightly different blooming
periods are planted in Ueno Park, we were rewarded with these early
sprays of pink so our trouble to get here wasn't in vain.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FkdfQNX4c2LyOzGEQ8WYl3s0v09j0vi68dvQ-RH3D7BJMXj1ex8nXrBjEMaM92NolVczH-YmQHaHrNdp6I7_HnUcJd9WPYQysBtYSqCKm6ZmYT2vWRyHJY2ozPjkbG0Sx_5ePRD1Vrw/s1600/Ueno-Park-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FkdfQNX4c2LyOzGEQ8WYl3s0v09j0vi68dvQ-RH3D7BJMXj1ex8nXrBjEMaM92NolVczH-YmQHaHrNdp6I7_HnUcJd9WPYQysBtYSqCKm6ZmYT2vWRyHJY2ozPjkbG0Sx_5ePRD1Vrw/s1600/Ueno-Park-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sakura flowers are pretty alone and beautiful together.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2pgYjzv4taNMNhM2nW4x9o-FBxvQfOKhdwBSXBYZlqUc6Kl6E684w_d6Xkb5a4VmNyICLmNorHeMAyKBaZv3H3ZwCAN_cLUpY-0KeoxHGdZr6Z57xeyK4Sh1yjRYzlPRWDp9T4lX43Q/s1600/Ueno-Park-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2pgYjzv4taNMNhM2nW4x9o-FBxvQfOKhdwBSXBYZlqUc6Kl6E684w_d6Xkb5a4VmNyICLmNorHeMAyKBaZv3H3ZwCAN_cLUpY-0KeoxHGdZr6Z57xeyK4Sh1yjRYzlPRWDp9T4lX43Q/s1600/Ueno-Park-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Groups of
people spread picnic mats along the paths lined with sakura trees for
hanami parties and gatherings. Consumption of alcohol is permitted in
Ueno Park so can you imagine warming up with some <i>sake</i> (Japanese
rice wine) in the cool spring air amidst drifting petals of sakura?
Ahh... it would be bliss! Except that the green hoarding destroyed any
sense of beauty! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_rfYL8z4tKhh2rPT8BADqrdv3_Io3AE0PyORFgge5uvIjOsvDSeXfciJCdMsJ_mRNXz5mSbf7UvtcBR7nmv3R8t-NwyavyHhzJ_7HOpq4adaHUBSl3o12di0h2jZSXHmyXFsVYyL7AE/s1600/Ueno-Park-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_rfYL8z4tKhh2rPT8BADqrdv3_Io3AE0PyORFgge5uvIjOsvDSeXfciJCdMsJ_mRNXz5mSbf7UvtcBR7nmv3R8t-NwyavyHhzJ_7HOpq4adaHUBSl3o12di0h2jZSXHmyXFsVYyL7AE/s1600/Ueno-Park-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Silly jump shot at the vast plaza in front of Tokyo National Museum.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
A brief time photographing the sakura blooms later, the sun began to set and we hurried off to our next destination. If I visit Tokyo again, I would definitely come back to Ueno Park to check out the zoo, temples and museums. And I would definitely start my visit much earlier so as to see more!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Akihabara - Plugging into the Anime Pulse of Tokyo</b></span><br />
<br />
Departing Ueno Park, we had wanted to walk over to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunkyo_Civic_Center" target="_blank">Bunkyo Civic Center</a>, which has a free-access observation deck on the 25th floor, to catch the sunset over Tokyo. On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji from the deck.<br />
<br />
In my research, Bunkyo Civic Center didn't seem too far a walk from Ueno Park but because I was being cheap, I didn't get a local data SIM card so that I can activate Google map for way-finding and relied on asking our way to where we wanted to be. Thinking that Bunkyo Civic Center would be a well-known landmark, we asked the police at Ueno Park and several passers-by along the way but no one knew where the building was. We even showed them photos of the building only to receive blank stares.<br />
<br />
We walked along Showa-Dori road, which is an arterial road next to the entrance of Ueno Park, and about 30 minutes later, we ended up at Akihabara! I've planned to go Akihabara after Bunkyo Civic Centre but unwittingly, we've arrived at Tokyo's famed tech district without knowing that we could actually walk to Akihabara from Ueno Park. Oh well, it was a pleasant surprise although we didn't get to see the sunset over Tokyo as hoped for.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARci_e2mf_CRv5vFsgstxl6uNa8EHOflx7MqpyQJGKUjwN3BUFkRHnulfD_w5PDdhITeK8nGmy__X1OyvCeTNZjPBEprTdC7v8wqiwNqMqaHyj2EslrVQinMMXFaRHHyqiKaVegcQ54U/s1600/Akihabara-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARci_e2mf_CRv5vFsgstxl6uNa8EHOflx7MqpyQJGKUjwN3BUFkRHnulfD_w5PDdhITeK8nGmy__X1OyvCeTNZjPBEprTdC7v8wqiwNqMqaHyj2EslrVQinMMXFaRHHyqiKaVegcQ54U/s1600/Akihabara-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Welcome to Tokyo's geekdom of tech and anime!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTsXvZzgBED_wTFq1plpVZPJauFQuYoIi9Bw7Lo6T1VRnBLBz_smcnks420g1RReuEKaTSlJinRkc2ein-KAkWVxJGRcNN7fkOpw2spK2DC-BWuoelFuQ8kf_w2TQWleM1SF3HeCV_Fs/s1600/Akihabara-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTsXvZzgBED_wTFq1plpVZPJauFQuYoIi9Bw7Lo6T1VRnBLBz_smcnks420g1RReuEKaTSlJinRkc2ein-KAkWVxJGRcNN7fkOpw2spK2DC-BWuoelFuQ8kf_w2TQWleM1SF3HeCV_Fs/s1600/Akihabara-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Other than
electronics, Akihabara is also a come-to place for entertainment-themed
restaurants and cafes such as the AKB48 Cafe and Gundam Cafe. AKB48 is
the wildly popular girl band group which has 48 members! And 'AKB' is
short for Akihabara because this is where it all started.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg33o-et-gcxPsw2EwLQQsSOajDC58T4VLGvKOjWhvERCPTaR2OCox1L5n69616HdkYn0zs1Zj-q_AkP9RTddXMYNzsSDWUMGo-kaQORSF7DJGPB8V_SNQ-QVkUqoYuprsmY7ptoM1pEM/s1600/Akihabara-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg33o-et-gcxPsw2EwLQQsSOajDC58T4VLGvKOjWhvERCPTaR2OCox1L5n69616HdkYn0zs1Zj-q_AkP9RTddXMYNzsSDWUMGo-kaQORSF7DJGPB8V_SNQ-QVkUqoYuprsmY7ptoM1pEM/s1600/Akihabara-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I came to
Akihabara not because I'm a techie but for the area's famed maid cafes
where diners are served by cute girls in maid costumes. Ok, I know what
you are thinking... that I'm a dirty old man satisfying some BDSM fetish
but I'm not. I'm just curious about this peculiar cafe culture that is
every schoolboy's and <strike>horny men</strike> fantasy. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9n-DNmrQsMLSFySO5Hc7RX4Y8jNjHdociqh74bixzR4O47RVyMHliPVjG7kUF5K1tsZaTs5fkmr4XrmDh12YK7vm_nN1g79rkjbJRyjsB6murN5ZF_HNpo5tCFqY-XdW639YBErLSiY/s1600/Akihabara-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9n-DNmrQsMLSFySO5Hc7RX4Y8jNjHdociqh74bixzR4O47RVyMHliPVjG7kUF5K1tsZaTs5fkmr4XrmDh12YK7vm_nN1g79rkjbJRyjsB6murN5ZF_HNpo5tCFqY-XdW639YBErLSiY/s1600/Akihabara-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the most famous maid cafe is <a href="http://www.cafe-athome.com/en/" target="_blank">@Home Cafe</a>.
At the cafe, you are treated like a king where the maids will serve
you, play games with you and even feed you! I was really psyched about
the experience of being pampered but my companion didn't feel
comfortable with the idea so the lift lobby was as close I'd gotten to
@Home Cafe.<br /><br />There are many different kinds of maid cafes in
Akihabara. Some have games as part of their services while others engage
you in handicraft or performances. I think it's a blessing that I
didn't go into the maid cafe. I would probably take over their jobs
since it sounds like so much fun! LOL</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayoJ3Bo5gf9bymNeI09SHfx6ey1zbWzIBtCrAENURf9mmE3goRzhmxNGpkYOTYeb0bQD0miR77I5BjOEekcdFsUU3KHr_0mt3v2A0OV1ijSjGGgofCxVGzWXXB3mAIzmXqd01NkxNIyA/s1600/Akihabara-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayoJ3Bo5gf9bymNeI09SHfx6ey1zbWzIBtCrAENURf9mmE3goRzhmxNGpkYOTYeb0bQD0miR77I5BjOEekcdFsUU3KHr_0mt3v2A0OV1ijSjGGgofCxVGzWXXB3mAIzmXqd01NkxNIyA/s1600/Akihabara-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since we gave the maid cafes a miss, we decided to check out Gundam Cafe, which is next door to the AKB48 Cafe.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3eL587MFjGlOdLCDwV1QMaZ43z8pyqQrewGBnOaw05RTqn4vTTYwLH3jZbUeYXu84aAwH8iG-uSsk5zKilFzLsamieSnRdBMJS8h3J4PyUMTGY13lPS7QlSyltgJ-kF3EdU-5HlHO8c/s1600/Akihabara-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3eL587MFjGlOdLCDwV1QMaZ43z8pyqQrewGBnOaw05RTqn4vTTYwLH3jZbUeYXu84aAwH8iG-uSsk5zKilFzLsamieSnRdBMJS8h3J4PyUMTGY13lPS7QlSyltgJ-kF3EdU-5HlHO8c/s1600/Akihabara-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Piecing
together plastic robots was one of my favourite past-times as a kid and I
had shelves full of Gundam bots and mechanised Zoids on display.
Whatever <i>ang pow</i> money I got during Chinese New Year would end up
on those shelves. So I was also pretty psyched to dine at Gundam Cafe.
But luck wasn't on our side. The cafe was closed that day for a private
event! <i>*tear out my hair*</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoqHDJ_rb9kTQy-qEZfANhVo8rFVNIabDWE8IhE4Y_aHl6rZ7Mln3epWNgQlmpeVpGE8Q70-jnxQSBPY6961oc4cQaVe7M5iXzQlAIzyz1XU84RTVFdsTADKXZaRh5qOI1o5qcvUG308/s1600/Akihabara-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoqHDJ_rb9kTQy-qEZfANhVo8rFVNIabDWE8IhE4Y_aHl6rZ7Mln3epWNgQlmpeVpGE8Q70-jnxQSBPY6961oc4cQaVe7M5iXzQlAIzyz1XU84RTVFdsTADKXZaRh5qOI1o5qcvUG308/s1600/Akihabara-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was
quite a string of non adventures at Akihabara but there's no denying
that the district possesses a great potential for unusual experiences
that is centered around the uniquely Japanese culture of manga / anime.
And here's me trying to audition as the next anime star. <i>Ooi</i>... stop puking okay?! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From soaking in the religious traditions at Asakusa Temple to sakura viewing at Ueno Park to stepping into the future at Akihabara, we encountered 3 very distinct facets of Tokyo that are so very different all in a day. What can I say except that I'm totally loving it in Tokyo!Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-35309147779258518892016-07-13T01:07:00.002+08:002016-10-03T08:29:24.119+08:00Kyoto (Japan) - From Modern to Time-Trodden<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 29 Mar 2016<br />
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After 4 days in Tokyo, we bade the eclectic capital city farewell and made our way to Kyoto. We were initially anxious about securing train tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto but there was really no need to worry as the frequency of trains plying between the two cities is very high.<br />
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A train departs Tokyo for Kyoto once every about 20 minutes so it wasn't necessary to pre-book tickets online. But being kiasu, we bought the tickets a day in advance at one of the ticketing outlets at Shinjuku Station where our hotel is near. During peak tourist season in Japan such as during the sakura season, it is advisable to buy tickets earlier in case tickets get sold out on the intended day of travel.<br />
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As Japan's train network is notoriously confusing, one trick I've learnt is to always look for a station's control booth next to the entry / exit gantries or information counters to ask and confirm details before making a ticket purchase. They are very helpful and most of them speak decent English so there's really no reason to get lost. When in doubt, just ask.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-23_zpsjfjbdhnt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-23_zpsjfjbdhnt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We bought the train ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto a day earlier on 28 Mar to travel on 29 Mar. The one-way train ride costs </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥13,080 (approx. S$172) for the non-reserved seat and takes about 140 minutes (2hrs 40mins) between Tokyo and Kyoto</span>. <br /><br />A non-reserved seat means that you don't get an assigned seat and have to get on the train carriage to look for an empty seat. If the train is full, you'll have to wait for the next one. A reserved seat would be one where you are assigned a seat number but it would costs more per ticket (</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥14,000 / S$184).</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-02_zpskwy9a4lv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-02_zpskwy9a4lv.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sleek Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) that look like they just arrived out of a sci-fi movie is our ride from Tokyo to Kyoto. The train line that connects Tokyo to Kyoto is known as the Tokaidao Line. <br /><br />Now, this is where it gets complicated. There are different travel durations for the Shinkansen to reach Kyoto - Nozomi train takes 140 minutes, Hikari train at 160 minutes and Kodama train is the slowest at 4 hours. So check the departure noticeboards and board the right train as all train tickets to Kyoto cost the same price. And make sure you board the right class - Reserved or Non-Reserved seat, which are indicated outside the train carriages. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-03_zpsaqnq9j1h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-03_zpsaqnq9j1h.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Tokaido Line actually links Tokyo to Kyoto and then onward to Osaka so it is not uncommon to see Shin-Osaka or Osaka listed as the final destination of a Shinkansen train. But always, when in doubt, ask a fellow passenger or a train captain who strolls pass as they change shift before getting on a train. I asked 3 different people to confirm the train I was getting on goes to Kyoto before I got on.<br /><br />There were a number of food shops at Tokyo's Shinagawa Station which offered very pretty looking bentos which we bought to fill up during the long ride. A set of these tic-tac-toe bento boxes costs around S$10. And don't worry about eating or drinking on the train as there are toilets on board in case you have a very active digestive system.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-04_zpsj4ssnwer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-04_zpsj4ssnwer.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A passing glimpse of the snow-capped tip of Mount Fuji. When visiting Japan, one of the trophies to bring home is a photo of Mount Fuji is full view with its white tip. However, due to weather and environmental conditions, getting an unobstructed and clear view of Mount Fuji with its summit covered in white snow depends a lot on luck.<br /><br />We didn't get to see the iconic mountain's summit when we visited Lake Kawaguchiko, a prime spot to see and photograph the famous mountain. But on our way from Tokyo to Kyoto, I caught a fleeting glimpse and thus this photo of Mount Fuji's white-capped top! Here's a tip... when facing the forward direction of the train, sit on the right side (see photo above) for a view of Mount Fuji passing by your window. Mount Fuji is visible about 35 minutes into the ride so prepare your camera!</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hello Kyoto!</span></b><br />
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We left Tokyo at about 11:50am and arrived in Kyoto at 1:10pm. The trains are very punctual for departure and arrival which made the whole travelling experience so definite and predictable. Love the Japanese for that!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-01_zps7mqb7pyo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-01_zps7mqb7pyo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I come in two pieces... my luggage and me. Lesson here is not to play matchy-matchy with the luggage as it's hard to discern which is which.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our nest in Kyoto was Hotel Brighton City
Kyoto Yamashina which was near a local train station and easily accessible. The hotel comes with free usage of an indoor onsen that has stipulated schudules to separate male and female usage of the shared hot pools.<br /><br />We paid S$495 for 2 nights here. Our room was very compact like most Japanese hotels but it has quite a nice view in the direction of the train station with mountain ranges in the background. After we put our luggage and bags, we had to tip-toe around the room.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One major convenience we enjoyed about Hotel Brighton City (Kyoto, Yamashina) was its next-door proximity to Daimaru shopping mall via an underground link. This provided a great opportunity to go food shopping at the the mall around 7:30pm when ready-to-eat stalls at its supermarket section start offering steep discounts for quick sale of their perishable bentos, snacks and meals. <br /><br />We bought 3 sets of sashimi </span><span style="font-size: small;">after discount </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">at </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥980</span></span> (S$4 each) </span> and delicious bentos for about S$6 for dinner. It was a sumptuous budget feast in bed!</span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Down the Way of Bygone Days</b></span><br />
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After dropping off my dressed-alike luggage at the hotel, we headed straight for Gion, the heritage district of Kyoto. It was just a shot train ride from Yamashina Station where our hotel was to Gion and we were instantly transported to a time-yellowed era of Japan's yesteryears.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kyoto is so very different from Tokyo. The streets are quieter and pace of life slower with countless remnants of the old world beautifully aged in place. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Antiques within an antique... Passed by this vintage toy shop that is itself a piece of history. I had a hunch that early sex toys were disguised as elephants.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This roadside lavatory that resembled a slice of Swiss Roll Cake cracked me up! Guess many would be doing some baking inside.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-07_zpsak31vxbr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-07_zpsak31vxbr.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wood you still love me tomorrow?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-13_zpspvbr50ri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-13_zpspvbr50ri.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">First bloom of a sakura tree reaching towards Kamo River taken on Sanjo Ohashi Bridge.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-12_zpsojr5gezf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-12_zpsojr5gezf.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pulling back a little more, this is the same sakura tree as the one above in black-and-white with Kamo River to the left. The river is near the Gion old quarters.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-21_zpsnl9v6hw4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-21_zpsnl9v6hw4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crossing Sanjo Ohashi Bridge over Kamo River from Gion, I was brought to a very quaint neighbourhood of restaurants and cafes along Kiyamachi Street. With a canal lined on one side with old shophouses and the other with cherry blossom trees, the street is a natural lens pleaser. But this place is not to be confused with the <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/07/japan-kyoto-falling-under-old-world.html" target="_blank">Shirakawa Area</a> which is the most scenic old streetscape in Kyoto.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-14_zpsiytqhibm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-14_zpsiytqhibm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Double flower power! A pink magnolia tree held its ground to attract eyeballs amongst the crowd of sakura blooms along </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kiyamachi Street</span>. I think the 2 flowers complement each other wondrously. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-15_zps1wzvtcol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-15_zps1wzvtcol.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pink magnolias typically bloom in spring on a bald tree.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-16_zps5dscmc4c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-16_zps5dscmc4c.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is always such a joy to discover sakuras in bloom. This is the pink variety of the five-petaled Yamazakura. This species sprouts leaves the same time as its flowers bud and bloom. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-17_zpstkswomem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-17_zpstkswomem.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having a Little Red Riding Hood moment in the enchanted sakura forest. LOL</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-19_zpsuiehb6ci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-19_zpsuiehb6ci.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wood always love you... Yup, I'm smitten by the classic wooded facade of olden day Jap architecture.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-10_zpsmczkspei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-10_zpsmczkspei.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Doing my best interpretation of Spirited Away.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-11_zpsrmrn6ddq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-11_zpsrmrn6ddq.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting in on the minimalist chic-Zen movement of Japan by cam-whoring with an uncluttered backdrop.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-20_zpsiknebeeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-20_zpsiknebeeb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The bench needed company so I decided to let it feel better by sharing the weight of my loneliness.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-18_zpsggdp1ho8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Kyoto-18_zpsggdp1ho8.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A scenic setting for great snaps, Kiyamachi Street and its surrounding grid of streets and tidy back alleys provide a unique backdrop to indulge in narcissism.<br /><br />We didn't find much things to do here as we did not venture to the nearby market and shopping area and decided to head back to the <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/07/japan-kyoto-falling-under-old-world.html" target="_blank">Gion old quarters</a> to catch the coveted cultural performances by maiko. Exploring Gion and its photogenic nearby districts of Kiyamachi Street and Shirakawa Area is definitely a time opportunity in Japan not to be missed! </span></td></tr>
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Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-23226907947306630952016-07-11T01:05:00.003+08:002016-10-03T08:29:54.624+08:00Kyoto (Japan) - Falling Under the Old World Charm of Gion and Shirakawa Area<b>Date of Exploration : </b>29 Mar 2016<br />
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Passing through the high walls that hid Gion (祇園) from the modern eye was like slipping through a crack in time to old Japan. And midst the labyrinth of wooded classical Japanese shophouses and abodes, a hunt is on for a glimpse of that elusive living cultural treasure of Japan... the geisha. It takes luck to spot one.<br />
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Gion is a famous geisha district, not just in Kyoto but the whole of Japan, which makes it a magnet for tourists hoping to chance a meeting with the traditional artisans. Historically, geisha are female performers who entertained male patrons with song and dance as well as offering consort and company during Japan's late medieval period from the 1600s. In those days, some of the geisha also provided sexual services and districts where they operate were condoned off and designated as pleasure quarters. Thus was the beginning of Gion. Or so many would think. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-01_zps8t3v6okk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-01_zps8t3v6okk.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taking a walk down the vintage Gion district is like going on a time travel to Japan's medieval past.</span></td></tr>
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Contrary to popular belief, Gion was never a red-light district and geisha are not prostitutes although some worked for the pleasures of the flesh.<br />
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The true origins of Gion, as I read off the web, is that the district started as an entertainment hub to serve visitors of the nearby Yasaka-jinja Shrine (a.k.a Gion Shrine). Today, Gion has evolved into an attraction in its own right and serves as a bridge into the old world.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-02_zpsvize0yqe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-02_zpsvize0yqe.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What greets visitors at Gion is a grid of streets and alleys packed with fine dining restaurants and tea houses (called <i>chaya</i> in Japanese) that will have credit card
companies preparing a funeral for the banks. Eateries within Gion are known to be pricey.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-03_zpsf1crhqxk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-03_zpsf1crhqxk.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <i>IT</i> thing to do at Kyoto is to rent a kimono (from <span class="st">¥</span>3,000, approx. S$40) and play dress-up to resurrect a nostalgic Japanese era with you in it. There are many ladies in traditional kimono but they are not geisha or maiko (apprentice geisha) so do not be mistaken. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-09_zpsnmb7scn4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-09_zpsnmb7scn4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also played dress up... aiming to channel Chage and Aska in a hip <i>(I think it's hip lah)</i> top but looking like Barney forgot sunscreen for the legs. Heh heh... Love the <strike>mostly</strike> old world feel of the alleyways at Gion.</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Catch a Traditional Show at Gion Corner... if You Can</span></b><br />
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Tucked at the end of the Gion main street (if you are coming from Shijo-dori Street) is Gion Corner where you can catch a variety of traditional dances and ceremonies as well as performances by maiko (apprentice geisha). <a href="http://www.kyoto-gioncorner.com/global/en.html" target="_blank">Click </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">here</a> for the official website of Gion Corner for their performance dates and schedules.<br />
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Tickets are at <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥</span></span>3,150 (S$42) per adult but if you <a href="http://www.kyoto-gioncorner.com/coopon.html" target="_blank">click </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">here</a> to download a coupon, print it out and show it during purchase, you can get the ticket at <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥</span></span>2,800 (S$37.50). However, Gion Corner so run special promotions during special seasons and tickets can go for <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥</span></span>2,500 (S$33.50) per adult so do check at the ticketing counter which is the best deal. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-10_zpsmmqxwtei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-10_zpsmmqxwtei.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrance to Gion Corner where a study of 7 different kinds of traditional performances await. The performances include Kyo-mai Dance, Flower Arrangement, Tea Ceremony, Koto Zither, Gagaku Court Music, Kyogen Theatre, and Bunraku Puppet Theatre.</span></td></tr>
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I looked forward to catching the the performances and came ahead at 4:30pm to purchase tickets for the 6:00pm show but was turned away. Ticketing only opens 30 minutes before the two nightly shows (unless stipulated as closed) at 6:00pm and 7:00pm.<br />
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Hence, for the 6:00pm show, tickets are available for sale at 5:30pm and 6:30pm for the 7:00pm show. We came at 5:45pm to buy tickets for the 6:00pm but it was already sold out. I was crestfallen but decided not to go for the 7:00pm show as I was famished and looked forward for dinner. <br />
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So my advice would be to start queuing at least 45 minutes before the stipulated show times.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-11_zpsd2lkxwzv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-11_zpsd2lkxwzv.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The performance hall of Gion Corner is the beige building on the left.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-12_zpsz4jovsvt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-12_zpsz4jovsvt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The good thing about being at Gion Corner early prior to the show times is that you may get to see a Maiko making her way to the theatre for the evening's performance! I was caught by surprise and they don't stop for photos so this smudgy shot was what I had to contend with using my Olympus Tough TG-4 compact cam.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do Not Touch the Geisha or Hound them Like Paparazzi</b></span><br />
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It is very hard not to be all worked up and excited upon seeing a real-life maiko or geisha. Because of their reclusive and guarded realm, their secret lives have become something of an enigma that makes a sighting the highlight of a visit to Gion.<br />
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The enthusiasm to bring home a memory of proof of sighting by tourists has led to increasing complaints from the artisans that tourists have become disturbingly rude with them by blocking their paths, holding them back and chasing after them for photographs. This led to the following sign to remind visitors to be respectful of geisha...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-05_zpsdjjgtlni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-05_zpsdjjgtlni.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">See no touch. Be respectful of Maiko and Geisha. You can take a photo from a distance but do not block their way or stop them as they are on their way to honour the booking of their entertainment services. That is, they are on their way to work. So stopping for photos with every click-hungry tourist would cause them to be late.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-06_zpsl9edmezb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-06_zpsl9edmezb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Weaving through the side streets and alleys of Gion, we came across houses with wooden tablets placed on top of the door frame. These are homes of a geisha and her charge of maiko (trainee geisha). Geisha is used both as a singular to describe one geisha as well as plural to describe many of them. Likewise, using the term maiko can mean one or a group.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-07_zpsc7ftqkvt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-07_zpsc7ftqkvt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Kyoto, the geisha is also called 'geiko' (pronounced as "gay cold" and not to be mispronounced as "gecko"). The village of the geiko is listed and the names of the maiko all ending in 子 (<i>zi</i>) are displayed outside the house.</span><span style="font-size: small;">In the
past, a girl may start training as a maiko from the age of 8 years-old.
The modern day maiko starts between the ages of 15 to 20 and their
training could take as long as 5 years to complete before they 'graduate' to become a
geiko. A geiko performance commands more prestige and a higher price compared to a maiko.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-08_zpsz7zdt8qs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-08_zpsz7zdt8qs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Face-time with a maiko! Again, the sighting took me by surprised and I tried to take a photo from the side without being intrusive. As the light was failing, she was constantly moving and I didn't want to shock her with flash photography, the photo turned out blur again.<br /><br />She is the third maiko we saw during our time in Gion. We saw one in a cab on her way to perform in a private event, another at Gion Corner, and this one who walked face-on in my direction. We must be really lucky!<br /><br />A maiko's costume is usually more vibrant and colourful as compared to the oft single-toned sombre hues that a geiko dresses in; that's how to tell them apart. Maiko and geiko don't perform for just anybody. You have to have connections to be invited to a private performance and be prepared to pay. Else, head over to Gion Corner for a sample of traditional dance performed by maiko.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-04_zpsr041dwrl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-04_zpsr041dwrl.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No selfie with geiko or maiko? No problem! Found these 2 cute and friendly gals in kimono to get my brush-with-history memento. <i>Arigatou</i> ladies!</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Shimbashi Street in Shirakawa Area Switches on its Charms</span></b><br />
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While the walled geisha district of Gion that sprouted along Hanami-koji Street is a key tourist attraction in Kyoto, there are many other scenic spots to explore outside of it and the most charming of them all would be Shimbashi Street in the Shirakawa Area. Especially at night when the night lights come on. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-13_zpsyoiuqvts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-13_zpsyoiuqvts.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We didn't really know our way to Shimbashi Street so we just followed the backs of strangers who seemed to have a destination in their stride and hoped that we'll stumble upon the famed street. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-14_zps50b5sr7m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-14_zps50b5sr7m.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Countless shops line the vehicular streets immediately outside of Gion. We were wandering blindly but thankfully, we arrived at...</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-15_zpsrzqgwov2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-15_zpsrzqgwov2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... Shimbashi Street! This is one side of it lined with blooming sakuras. It took us under 20 minutes to walk from Gion to Shimbashi Street.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-16_zps9hhlehiu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-16_zps9hhlehiu.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The boulevard of statuesque sakura trees filled the atmosphere with romance and magic... and then I had to stand there and spoil it. LOL</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-17_zpsh8rojyv7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-17_zpsh8rojyv7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Across from the boulevard of cherry blossoms is the Shirakawa Canal where the most enchanting street-scape of Kyoto unfolds along the waterway. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-18_zpsjt5dfeuf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-18_zpsjt5dfeuf.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sakura lined streets, bridges, a flowing stream and classical architecture... Shimbashi Street with the accompanying Shirakawa Canal brought to life a fairytale scene. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-19_zpsuf5my0t7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-19_zpsuf5my0t7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The best time to visit Shimbashi Street is during the evening when the day crosses over to the night. This was taken at 6:40pm when the blue hour was at its peak. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-26_zpszb3ny9oc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-26_zpszb3ny9oc.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Words and photos are inadequate to fully express the period beauty of this lyrical poem residing in a bewitching painting.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-22_zpsa8ytys9z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-22_zpsa8ytys9z.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lots of visitors and photographers fell under the spell of Shimbashi Street. On the other side of the canal, premium restaurants and tea houses line the banks to offer a prime dining experience.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-20_zpsrttlc3gr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-20_zpsrttlc3gr.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A cascading spray of cherry blossoms in full bloom.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-21_zps3sifotcx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-21_zps3sifotcx.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sakura flowers radiate beauty both in daylight and artificial light.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-23_zpsatwiso0h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-23_zpsatwiso0h.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No leaves just flowers.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-24_zpsb9z7o2dm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-24_zpsb9z7o2dm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We took a very scenic night stroll down Shimbashi Street.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-25_zpsfdu7xawa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-25_zpsfdu7xawa.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shimbashi Street receives an endless stream of visitors during sakura season.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-27_zpsglkyp9np.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-27_zpsglkyp9np.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I liked the lights found around Shirakawa Area that are such beacons of Zen.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-28_zpsbkateauy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-28_zpsbkateauy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tight alleyways of Shirakawa Area are home to numerous restaurants waiting to be savoured. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-29_zpsaugzuvmy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Gion-29_zpsaugzuvmy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Old world in a new light.</span></td></tr>
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Our visit of Gion and the scenic areas beyond it began from 4pm and ended at 7pm. Personally, I didn't find a lot of things to do except for landscape photography and and posing in them.<br />
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Restaurants and shops at these heritage quarters have an obligation towards authenticity so it's impossible to see beyond the wooded frames and paper screens to know what's offered inside. Their commitment to uniformity in building material also led to a somewhat homogenous look where it is hard to distinguish one eatery from another.<br />
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Yet, those are the factors that distinguish Kyoto from other Japanese cities and that which made this place a come-to to escape the hyper urbanity and frenzied life-pace of Japan.Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-21808309063104280462016-07-03T01:06:00.000+08:002016-10-03T08:30:17.223+08:00Kyoto (Japan) - A Date with the Gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine<b>Date of Exploration : </b>30 Mar 2016<br />
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This iconic landmark of Japan needs no introduction but ironically, its name is not be very well-known. Before coming here, I didn't know it is called <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html" target="_blank">Fushimi Inari Shrine</a> and only referred to it as "that place with the orange tunnel of wooden pillars and beams". Having seen so many striking photos of it, this shrine has been on my checklist of places to visit for a loooooong time if I ever came to Japan. So tada! ...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-01_zpscjz10gwh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-01_zpscjz10gwh.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... I finally walked into the photograph I've seen so many countless people had taken!</span></td></tr>
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Probably the most recognisable tourism sight and site in Japan after Mount Fuji, this attraction that is made for souvenir photos is a must-see by being as enchanting and fascinating as it is awkward in its fusion with the forested hillside it calls home.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Walking into a Spiritual Vein of Shinto</b></span><br />
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Established since 711AD, Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of Japan's definitive cultural relic and is the head of all Inari Shinto shrines (some over 40,000 of them) in Japan. "Inari" is the <i>kami</i> (god) of grain foods such as rice and Sake and is worshipped for its association with good harvest, fertility and prosperity.<br />
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As for "Fushimi", it is the name of the location the shrine is at to distinguish it from the many other Inari shrines. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-02_zps3iba6goh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-02_zps3iba6goh.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A giant <i>torii</i> gate marks the entrance path that leads to Fushimi Inari Shrine.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-03_zpsxxwtv5ru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-03_zpsxxwtv5ru.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A second <i>torii </i>gate stands guard closer to the shrine's Romon Gate. Behind the Romon Gate is the collection of prayer houses of Fushimi Inari Shrine.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-10_zpstxi1sqkc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-10_zpstxi1sqkc.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Three cheers! Saw these jovial lovelies taking a wefie and their joy of friendship compelled me to snap a photo of them in the act. But when they saw me framing their moment from a distance, they spontaneously broke into a smile towards me. So I got closer and remembered this warmth that brightened my day. Even though we were strangers. Thank you for the sunshine! :-D</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-04_zpshvpxktvv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-04_zpshvpxktvv.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Foxes are considered messengers for Inari. Wherever you find fox <i>komainu</i> (guardian spirits) at the entrance of a holy place, that is a sure sign that that is an Inari shrine.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-05_zpsrnckusmd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-05_zpsrnckusmd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A stage sits in front of the main prayer (<i>honden</i>) and offering (<i>haiden</i>) hall.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-06_zps4lh16mal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-06_zps4lh16mal.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Framing the stage where bugaku dance or noh theatre are performed to honour the gods. Torii gate, purification trough, stage, <i>honden</i>, <i>haiden</i>, <i>ema</i> and <i>omikuji</i> are classical features of Shinto shrines.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-11_zpskhxbohtg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-11_zpskhxbohtg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A side shrine within the compound of Fushimi Inari Shrine lined with an ema board where devotees can write their hopes, wishes and prayers on wooden 'cards'.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-12_zps4ilnxevh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-12_zps4ilnxevh.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fushimi Inari Shrine's main <i>honden</i> and <i>haiden</i> hall.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-09_zpsdks9a319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-09_zpsdks9a319.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are many ways to pray and make offerings at a Shinto shrine from tying <i>omikuji</i> (fortune telling paper slips) to make good fortunes come true and bad fortunes go away, to lighting candles and incense, to penning hopes on wooden <i>ema</i> cards. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-04a_zpsugjhceyj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-04a_zpsugjhceyj.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ema</i> in the shape of mini torii gates where visitors can pen wishes and prayers to be hung on a display rack.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-07_zpsytktnbmz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-07_zpsytktnbmz.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Say a prayer and sound the bell to alert the spirits to get to work in realising the wishes. I'm not Buddhist but I was quietly hoping for prolonged good health for the people I love and myself, as well as wisdom and everlasting love when I tugged the ribbon that sounded the bell. I hope my hopes come true :)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-13_zpsrpu1tiwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-13_zpsrpu1tiwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is what everlasting love looks like... Saw this old couple, white with the remaining hair they had, praying at a shrine. What you don't see is that they were holding each others' hand while saying their prayers. I felt so warm and fuzzy inside and also envious. Meeting that person who is willing to work things out and grow old with you is such a treasure to never let go of.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-08_zpsz1kygrx5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-08_zpsz1kygrx5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The old couple were praying to this Shinto altar. May whatever they prayed for come into realisation.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-14_zpsrqefimno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-14_zpsrqefimno.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After passing through the stage, prayer hall and a series of shrines, we arrived at the back of Fushimi Inari Shrine where the real magic begins! This is where we will walk into the famed corridor of minor <i>torii</i> gates lined to closely together, they form an endless crimson tunnel.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-15_zpsdu9noymw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-15_zpsdu9noymw.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The corridor of <i>torii</i> gates is adored by many visitors so it is impossible to get a clean shot without people in the background. But if you come in the evening, the number of visitors will be thinner. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-20_zpseyna3ygv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-20_zpseyna3ygv.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The initial line-up of taller <i>torii</i> gates led down a path where it is split into a left and right row of densely packed shorter <i>torii</i> gates. The conventional way is to take the right route and return by the left. The corridor leads up the mountain that Fushimi Inari Shrine sits at the bottom of.<br /><br />As we were pressed for time, we didn't intend to climb to the top, a journey that will take about 3 hours to go up and come back down so we took the left route to experience what walking into the orange tunnel felt like. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-18_zpsazgzpsh4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-18_zpsazgzpsh4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although we went against human traffic, we were freed from the crowd and managed to experience the meditative allure of the torii tunnel without people. It felt mysterious because you can't see beyond a turn and yet awed at the same time of the sheer number of these wooden pillars and beams.<br /><br />At one point, I imagined the tunnel to be the blood veins that fed Inari.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-16_zps7ewkzzoq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-16_zps7ewkzzoq.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A very popular thing to do is to rent a traditional Japanese kimono or costume in downtown Kyoto and pretend to step back in time in Japan at Fushimi Inari Shrine.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-17_zps7asqjy9m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-17_zps7asqjy9m.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <i>torii</i> corridor cocooned us from the forest outside. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-19_zpsmvh4vrl7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-19_zpsmvh4vrl7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <i>torii</i> gates were donated by individuals as well as corporations as homage to the gods for prayers for prosperity that were realised. There are about 10,000 of these <i>torii</i> gates that formed snaking trails up Mount Inari. If you are thinking of donating and inscribing a <i>torii</i> gate of your own, it costs about </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥</span>400,000 (S$5,300) for a small gate and </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥1 million (S$13,200) for a big gate</span>. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-21_zpsewgi9ohj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Fushimi-Inari-Shrine-21_zpsewgi9ohj.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A leap of victory for finally coming to this place that I've wanted to visit for so long! And getting here was much easier than I thought. It's just a short 5 minutes train ride on the Japan Rail line from Kyoto Station to Inari Station.<br /><br />This is definitely a place like no other to visit when in Japan! </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<b>Related Post :</b><br />
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<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/06/japan-kyoto-tofukuji-temple-home-of-zen.html" target="_blank">Tofukuji Temple - The Home of Zen</a>Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-36500079722254220892016-06-27T01:22:00.001+08:002017-11-04T22:04:49.925+08:00Kyoto (Japan) - Tofukuji Temple : The Home of Zen<b>Date of Exploration : </b>30 Mar 2016<br />
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Coming to Tofukuji Temple (東福寺) was actually an afterthought as we had time since our visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine concluded early. But after coming here, I regretted not making it one of the key attractions to see while in Kyoto so that more time could have been allocated to explore this massive religious site.<br />
While Tofukuji Temple may be the main prayer hall, its vicinity consists of a large collection of shrines and spiritual houses distributed over an extensive plot that could very well contain a small town!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQV_VMXNaq1A24jcPwsN0ualFFpOoQEcUCzGAyDXPdERi4SvNMqnvEO0RXFvxmAgY-qOsUZd7uBpmlTjz2Zsccb9mHWcoKv2rNEuOOQFZzOUMYLBfstdW-QIqoBjBUe9X3GFfft-bWVw/s1600/Tofukuji-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQV_VMXNaq1A24jcPwsN0ualFFpOoQEcUCzGAyDXPdERi4SvNMqnvEO0RXFvxmAgY-qOsUZd7uBpmlTjz2Zsccb9mHWcoKv2rNEuOOQFZzOUMYLBfstdW-QIqoBjBUe9X3GFfft-bWVw/s1600/Tofukuji-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the steps of one of the shrines we encountered as we made our way towards Tofukuji Temple.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmCbpnkEIXHtDKmtbpjNwUyYd3IYO2E3wTKBxxNj8llVPqLI3buew9lSdVcIkoZ3Ca73M_LZtPaVnd2r_998Ry21LVgDplRSnOLQdzgbg1m95RkakuP4un0GXwOc38wDcfhWLCADvpM4/s1600/Tofukuji-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmCbpnkEIXHtDKmtbpjNwUyYd3IYO2E3wTKBxxNj8llVPqLI3buew9lSdVcIkoZ3Ca73M_LZtPaVnd2r_998Ry21LVgDplRSnOLQdzgbg1m95RkakuP4un0GXwOc38wDcfhWLCADvpM4/s1600/Tofukuji-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not
knowing what Tofukuji Temple looks like due to a lack of prior research,
we found ourselves guessing if every spiritual building we encountered
along the way is Tofukuji Temple.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4VzPf_Kj-tpkHv54oiBNPZIoNPFW8ZfUTblEdjct2Mk6gnZlAyChDqMSRGIvcOwS3QL17YNbAO-zcNGo5pHEU4ivKL_LDG3G-piJIEMi1JLycRx_3N-AWVhQ0UMdmM47GVoiNw6Rbbo/s1600/Tofukuji-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4VzPf_Kj-tpkHv54oiBNPZIoNPFW8ZfUTblEdjct2Mk6gnZlAyChDqMSRGIvcOwS3QL17YNbAO-zcNGo5pHEU4ivKL_LDG3G-piJIEMi1JLycRx_3N-AWVhQ0UMdmM47GVoiNw6Rbbo/s1600/Tofukuji-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looks like autumn or the beginning of spring touching the roof of a minor shrine within Tofukuji Temple's compound.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpTq0Q_b5Jvqtw5B_RAF2AopKLT5eM2lv-VQkXxU7CT7P_cILsuwhS2ZqROGEXHadr5R6p32gIryLyTDqqVA7H5wIHl_PVq8uSxAAxvL8XUi7FYizzU506D1V8_bW34JUn2804S53UgI/s1600/Tofukuji-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpTq0Q_b5Jvqtw5B_RAF2AopKLT5eM2lv-VQkXxU7CT7P_cILsuwhS2ZqROGEXHadr5R6p32gIryLyTDqqVA7H5wIHl_PVq8uSxAAxvL8XUi7FYizzU506D1V8_bW34JUn2804S53UgI/s1600/Tofukuji-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A series of smaller shrines dot the huge grounds that belong to Tofukuji Temple.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pFmGLZuItAC-IKoo-4ZhzWLFDk6FcgWuUEq4K6dSmK0QxN5fTjm_QQp_y_lZGTh5bxD9Je_uxNrqvaZQ_s_fYjbv48jr3hex9byJ8KQG7cqHyzTdqAL-kCtdQfSovv6cShuJnsupUQ8/s1600/Tofukuji-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pFmGLZuItAC-IKoo-4ZhzWLFDk6FcgWuUEq4K6dSmK0QxN5fTjm_QQp_y_lZGTh5bxD9Je_uxNrqvaZQ_s_fYjbv48jr3hex9byJ8KQG7cqHyzTdqAL-kCtdQfSovv6cShuJnsupUQ8/s1600/Tofukuji-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some of the shrines are off limits while others allow visitation and are functioning prayer houses for devotees.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SBbT9qOr961x26Icrf9ZrV4Ryg2HFLyYxWTRhJeMoDwMT0-d2b9tf0Sx3xlQ4Wjp56F_4xYU3cs6bwArFT84scN0hyphenhyphenjyrmY0JzkOGziN95l_AMaH9w3-5NnmqOx8Oxxzm6YJziAZhq8/s1600/Tofukuji-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SBbT9qOr961x26Icrf9ZrV4Ryg2HFLyYxWTRhJeMoDwMT0-d2b9tf0Sx3xlQ4Wjp56F_4xYU3cs6bwArFT84scN0hyphenhyphenjyrmY0JzkOGziN95l_AMaH9w3-5NnmqOx8Oxxzm6YJziAZhq8/s1600/Tofukuji-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After
about a 20 minutes walk from the train station and passing various minor
shrines, we finally got our first glimpse of the main buildings that
make up Tofukuji Temple. <br /><br />This valley of maple trees and shrubs
is a popular autumn spot where crowds gather to watch that season's
colours. We came during the awakening of spring and the bald branches
have yet to grow a new leafy coat.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfpgDSlV40DewOl-yNGt4OEYNUMBujUkjKs8WrzpdmUAV_rAoi_iAUe-adRpBwKU3xalN40mY0CH9OpIdlnsNAjcGGtw4jFJxMf_k0HxDPAOmlawidKbpYq_uH9c-I4fnXkyP-I-sCic/s1600/Tofukuji-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfpgDSlV40DewOl-yNGt4OEYNUMBujUkjKs8WrzpdmUAV_rAoi_iAUe-adRpBwKU3xalN40mY0CH9OpIdlnsNAjcGGtw4jFJxMf_k0HxDPAOmlawidKbpYq_uH9c-I4fnXkyP-I-sCic/s1600/Tofukuji-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were
walking blind on the grounds of Tofukuji Temple since there weren't
prominent signs pointing the way but we found the entrance to the main
temple after crossing a wooden bridge that could very well have been a
tunnel that led back in time!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipqHoBqra-jp0T0DEHWGHtMlekoHN14wky89bHFyLDfmVAftRQV_fZgIRrrEsS4TT0mtNRux4aTazefsgkTa5HfHIN4cnn0XjiZCqrZNpmbf6SzHWD9nXC1HqN5tWA__fD0w7GaFgUew/s1600/Tofukuji-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipqHoBqra-jp0T0DEHWGHtMlekoHN14wky89bHFyLDfmVAftRQV_fZgIRrrEsS4TT0mtNRux4aTazefsgkTa5HfHIN4cnn0XjiZCqrZNpmbf6SzHWD9nXC1HqN5tWA__fD0w7GaFgUew/s1600/Tofukuji-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Passing through a gate, we arrived at the massive Tofukuji Temple and its peripheral buildings.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwiIxIclH-sJUHP0PNQ27auWGSfC0rmlHfS_3Ju8Jxdfw6BMYDWEuaVd-3m-NDY-Dz38O8Vm3fK5Q8YBNSzVfXwW2JNGqt8KczxUNJTKkD31yN9KaduFKOVh8ZkGiQmQ3gzNFr5obV_k/s1600/Tofukuji-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwiIxIclH-sJUHP0PNQ27auWGSfC0rmlHfS_3Ju8Jxdfw6BMYDWEuaVd-3m-NDY-Dz38O8Vm3fK5Q8YBNSzVfXwW2JNGqt8KczxUNJTKkD31yN9KaduFKOVh8ZkGiQmQ3gzNFr5obV_k/s1600/Tofukuji-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tofukuji Temple was founded in 1236 and is a temple that honours the Zen aspect of Buddhism.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4AsjyI5XCVg_NbJLnvNQctlelO0S_bH06ZGQnhYfhyC_87e28GeR8Qf4ghEmplaWcYQUbRgo5c5ztVeNJBO5XU-YYoGTdFi5pTBFpEFV4wobvYFPXzx6OQg5rI90XwjJDDkdMftyQPQ/s1600/Tofukuji-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4AsjyI5XCVg_NbJLnvNQctlelO0S_bH06ZGQnhYfhyC_87e28GeR8Qf4ghEmplaWcYQUbRgo5c5ztVeNJBO5XU-YYoGTdFi5pTBFpEFV4wobvYFPXzx6OQg5rI90XwjJDDkdMftyQPQ/s1600/Tofukuji-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Zen is a
school of Buddhism with Taoist influence that became a pillar of the
religion. Zen Buddhism emphasises the practice of meditation over the
ritualistic worship and study of Mahayana Buddhist scriptures.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kb99L3CbNLv-0MkjTfnsnUj2jpKTB1hLfEvNL0KuyM7C_kZ5QNXDS_mzhiiqMgZba1KAF7x87mSO8UrkDoYUykmKjKWaM1l6IY5kIcKOw8HX800YhTadOWa1E4M07LKq4juX-bzlHqM/s1600/Tofukuji-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kb99L3CbNLv-0MkjTfnsnUj2jpKTB1hLfEvNL0KuyM7C_kZ5QNXDS_mzhiiqMgZba1KAF7x87mSO8UrkDoYUykmKjKWaM1l6IY5kIcKOw8HX800YhTadOWa1E4M07LKq4juX-bzlHqM/s1600/Tofukuji-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Putting a scale to the gigantic doors of the main hall (hondo) of Tofukuji Temple.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7Chliv-9q6UvHucZNPPVrfgPUaIcWwmAVQzIU1H8htv6WPRhiz1HqYcF2qQvg6xD9dRRUS9z23Ytfo16T1ugQnvE5zyi4KZ-xbn-vFTM2ePhO6c0S_PNhf71JV2RIYTV38Dk7HI9TCc/s1600/Tofukuji-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7Chliv-9q6UvHucZNPPVrfgPUaIcWwmAVQzIU1H8htv6WPRhiz1HqYcF2qQvg6xD9dRRUS9z23Ytfo16T1ugQnvE5zyi4KZ-xbn-vFTM2ePhO6c0S_PNhf71JV2RIYTV38Dk7HI9TCc/s1600/Tofukuji-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A peek inside the main prayer hall of Tofukuji Temple. The ceiling artwork looks like a painting formed by soot.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ63dHwk0Ztlzp0a9whcXM-Z1NPNgxZ2Ia9QDVGWMpwzBNm5AXKHdDrcNV6BFciM-cAJnE9hQJDVbEe4oUkSiZalDzLDZ4to-W1euc4APEQzwSe_vx4j39YapsM2U952jkU9C5o0Jq8E/s1600/Tofukuji-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ63dHwk0Ztlzp0a9whcXM-Z1NPNgxZ2Ia9QDVGWMpwzBNm5AXKHdDrcNV6BFciM-cAJnE9hQJDVbEe4oUkSiZalDzLDZ4to-W1euc4APEQzwSe_vx4j39YapsM2U952jkU9C5o0Jq8E/s1600/Tofukuji-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Circular decorative roof tiles at Tofukuji Temple.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIyE4Xy4uX_M7m8TgAxZTZAr8DfHz7rU_sZw0WKYuYqlP6Wl1G4p85EEn0kS3pcEIwUjOE6atZBSxQUTm9Z2UrM5cYEADTXy-3H-bvCT8wAVkiAOgLKSJrkwoH10LQY_hbwb4M37L7Lw/s1600/Tofukuji-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIyE4Xy4uX_M7m8TgAxZTZAr8DfHz7rU_sZw0WKYuYqlP6Wl1G4p85EEn0kS3pcEIwUjOE6atZBSxQUTm9Z2UrM5cYEADTXy-3H-bvCT8wAVkiAOgLKSJrkwoH10LQY_hbwb4M37L7Lw/s1600/Tofukuji-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An exhibition hall at the temple grounds. An entrance fee is applicable to step inside.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvmJwQCSt2gMgc06vvBSSNUf87m_UJsdRJvJM1Kc0_SFKfmlQ-YwkhmRh6sGi75EfaUm8gwX2s_zm9WZmQndedGO3-BpuBkLnC705REe8-h6BQ1X4fEPHn5j-XvnlEomA2VIhTrtlKRs/s1600/Tofukuji-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvmJwQCSt2gMgc06vvBSSNUf87m_UJsdRJvJM1Kc0_SFKfmlQ-YwkhmRh6sGi75EfaUm8gwX2s_zm9WZmQndedGO3-BpuBkLnC705REe8-h6BQ1X4fEPHn5j-XvnlEomA2VIhTrtlKRs/s1600/Tofukuji-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">General shots of scenes at Tofukuji Temple grounds with a perspective shot of the Tsutenkyo Bridge (通天桥). It costs </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥400
to go on the bridge to look out over a valley of trees but we gave it a
miss as we arrived close to closing time and wanted to see the other
parts of Tofukuji Temple</span>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzj5nhVCBvuzMSZTMKrhkdoC5xJvoOpTDubJEN3FVv5KPiJcVNGJJ6yJmMYAJ3npANY4BFWbWoj8hYVLzyf_TXmZLAxn1vFYT5wssuQHLDl9SissQT73cjUHshwUQVjBYiHFZE6oPUtA/s1600/Tofukuji-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzj5nhVCBvuzMSZTMKrhkdoC5xJvoOpTDubJEN3FVv5KPiJcVNGJJ6yJmMYAJ3npANY4BFWbWoj8hYVLzyf_TXmZLAxn1vFYT5wssuQHLDl9SissQT73cjUHshwUQVjBYiHFZE6oPUtA/s1600/Tofukuji-16.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To one
side of Tofukiji main hall is this equally imposing structure. Dating
back to 1425, this gate known as the Sanmon Gate is the oldest Zen gate
of its kind.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxs5iHf3ec-DEPsbSXx4OEd1CD9Wna0B4DjPvEkcq2wVnhvK4T41ySU510_g5fsfIx6d9wXOXw1azwqtPCw9dcp6uSc81uCjNU-EuBfPFA-WXahmg4bl1OwzSvG5IRz20FjAGbA9DrEO8/s1600/Tofukuji-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxs5iHf3ec-DEPsbSXx4OEd1CD9Wna0B4DjPvEkcq2wVnhvK4T41ySU510_g5fsfIx6d9wXOXw1azwqtPCw9dcp6uSc81uCjNU-EuBfPFA-WXahmg4bl1OwzSvG5IRz20FjAGbA9DrEO8/s1600/Tofukuji-20.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tucked into one corner behind the main prayer hall is a series of <i>torii</i> arches.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOsB6S3Kj8uEIkFL-fy_ZHRdgD7TQktQZvjwrYRaV6SQILO7LDr0kNxg75Xf-Xx3N80qqQEi2KG3l5kA1vKwDvU741xDP3IR0EvfZmOhOUbPSM4kEsfDmI3MDdnAJPoa1YbmWgliZOGI/s1600/Tofukuji-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOsB6S3Kj8uEIkFL-fy_ZHRdgD7TQktQZvjwrYRaV6SQILO7LDr0kNxg75Xf-Xx3N80qqQEi2KG3l5kA1vKwDvU741xDP3IR0EvfZmOhOUbPSM4kEsfDmI3MDdnAJPoa1YbmWgliZOGI/s1600/Tofukuji-19.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taking a path a distance from the <i>torii</i> gates, we found ourselves at a backyard cemetery! Yikes.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiD-UouOOq5CSxYr0bDwQGECBtOhay4iSvzqZXqoNY84dAzNyLIQPy29BLoOcbulNOYu1o0f1c_5JvPksTVtdv4trrwTvxUzfAsa16csaZ29Kcd6ozVQKcDc6g_i0q2PrlQnYx_xDeMA/s1600/Tofukuji-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiD-UouOOq5CSxYr0bDwQGECBtOhay4iSvzqZXqoNY84dAzNyLIQPy29BLoOcbulNOYu1o0f1c_5JvPksTVtdv4trrwTvxUzfAsa16csaZ29Kcd6ozVQKcDc6g_i0q2PrlQnYx_xDeMA/s1600/Tofukuji-17.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fresh blooms of sakuras contrasted with the concrete finality of death.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5itykwCAwvbJEBq0wldlWxXbyglST2mVbkeP_uxFtcpA0x2kdkv-nGsEoOENBzPV32ytjKW57sqikHXLcquRws0pk3ClHHeB2J5VxZLVRgiw_BC5pMin-atlNf-FVkwKg2IZhyphenhyphenxOXg5U/s1600/Tofukuji-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5itykwCAwvbJEBq0wldlWxXbyglST2mVbkeP_uxFtcpA0x2kdkv-nGsEoOENBzPV32ytjKW57sqikHXLcquRws0pk3ClHHeB2J5VxZLVRgiw_BC5pMin-atlNf-FVkwKg2IZhyphenhyphenxOXg5U/s1600/Tofukuji-18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This visit
to Tofukuji Temple was like looking at a tree full of flowers and
finding just one that spoke to you. We didn't plan to come here, but I'm
glad we made it here. It's like the serendipity of finding something worth
treasuring when you weren't looking... :-D</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-41160285308707144512016-06-26T02:06:00.000+08:002016-10-03T08:30:55.783+08:00Osaka (Japan) - Framing Nihon History with Osaka Castle<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 31 Mar 2016<br />
<br />
Perched within a moated fortress watching over the city, Osaka Castle (<i>Ōsakajō</i> 大阪城) is one of Japan's top historical links to the nation's imperial past and the site where the unification of Japan was conceived. With such a rich history and magnificent architecture, I was eager to explore the castle and hopefully snap some picturesque photos. I wasn't disappointed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-01_zpswuugwzmj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-01_zpswuugwzmj.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our visit coincided with the annual sakura season and what a spectacular time to see Osaka Castle!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Osaka Castle Park</b></span><br />
<br />
The castle sits in the middle of a sprawling park with over 600 cherry blossom trees and a collection of trees and plants that colour themselves according to the changing seasons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-02_zps2nw8h7lt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-02_zps2nw8h7lt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we arrived at Osaka Castle Park, I was immediately bewitched by the open large spaces, neat lawns and alluring tranquility.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-03_zpshqps8bew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-03_zpshqps8bew.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The park is like a canvas where spring, autumn and winter paint their colours.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-04_zpsa29sr6yf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-04_zpsa29sr6yf.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To get to Osaka Castle, we had to cut through the park surrounding it. A stroll in the park was a nice prelude that built up the anticipation to see the castle. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-05_zpshxsbrwhx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-05_zpshxsbrwhx.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I don't know the species of the tree but it has such an unusual structure and form! Used it to frame part of the citadel that marks the walled compounds of Osaka Castle.</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Becoming a Castlenova</span></b><br />
<br />
Personally, I feel that the best way to appreciate Osaka Castle is not upclose but from afar with many rewarding spots to frame the castle around the park grounds.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-06_zpsi1vyncou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-06_zpsi1vyncou.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Osaka Castle given the Halloween treatment by framing it between two trees yet to let spring regrow what they lost to winter.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-07_zpsjg2jatk9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-07_zpsjg2jatk9.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A hole in the foliage that formed a natural frame to capture the castle.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-10_zpsstwexg6u.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-10_zpsstwexg6u.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nature and architecture.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-09_zpsfqjswcvu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-09_zpsfqjswcvu.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">More flower power to photograph Osaka Castle with.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-08_zpsxrcqhhwf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-08_zpsxrcqhhwf.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enough of the flowers, here's capturing Osaka Castle with banners of one of its representative insignias. I've become something of a castle casanova looking for various ways to lovingly frame the castle. Heh heh... </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-11_zpshkjhjt9c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-11_zpshkjhjt9c.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The best time to photograph Osaka Castle is in the late afternoon when the setting sun illuminates the embellishments with its golden rays, making them glimmer.</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Exploring Osaka Castle</span></b><br />
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Construction of the castle began in 1583 but it wasn't until 1931 that its current concrete form was completed. The castle has a tumultuous past that saw it destroyed twice - once in 1615 when invading forces from a rival Japanese warlord razed it to the ground and another time when lightning struck in 1665 and burnt it down.<br />
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The castle was abandoned for a period of time and it wasn't until 1997 that the troubled castle was restored to its former stature and glory.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-12a_zpsvukbonar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-12a_zpsvukbonar.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello from Osaka Castle!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-13_zpsk7yvryww.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-13_zpsk7yvryww.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrance fee for Osaka Castle - ¥600 (adult). Opening hours during my visit was 9:00am to 7:00pm. We arrived at the castle at 3:36pm after about 45 minutes spent taking photos while cutting through the park.<br /><br />I think we arrived at a perfect timing as we got good daylight to see the surroundings when we climbed up to the top of the castle and when we left, the setting sun lit up the face of the castle for some nice photos of it as we crossed over to another part of the park.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-14_zpsc8uwlf0l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-14_zpsc8uwlf0l.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Osaka Castle has a five-tiered exterior but an interior with 7 levels. You can climb the stairs or take the lift to get to the top of the castle. There was a long queue for the lift so we took the stairs.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-15_zpsgjpptfzv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-15_zpsgjpptfzv.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photography is not allowed on certain levels within Osaka Castle where original relics recovered from the castle are displayed. For the remaining levels photography is permitted. These levels are the ones where the history of the castle is told through a series of holograms and this figurine ensemble that attempt to depict the great Summer Battle of Osaka. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-16_zpsulsetcnr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-16_zpsulsetcnr.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you had the patience to count, you'll number 307 figurines in this depiction of the Summer Battle where Osaka fell under siege.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-17_zpsz77ak36s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-17_zpsz77ak36s.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After ascending the history, we arrived at the top that provided an aerial view of the surrounding. It's a narrow circumference for the panoramic view with a lot of tourists. It took some patience to wait to get into an ideal spot to see and snap.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-18_zpsry4lhqw9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-18_zpsry4lhqw9.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Close up of the decorations on the roof. Looks like the fish just jumped out from the waters of the moat.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-19_zpsdalewyar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-19_zpsdalewyar.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View of Osaka Castle Park grounds.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-20_zpsystgtmks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-20_zpsystgtmks.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The face-off between nature and architecture.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-21_zpsttu7b4ei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-21_zpsttu7b4ei.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Great vantage point to take in the modern cityscape of Osaka while standing on piece of history that lived through the city's evolution.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-22_zpsqeyhrrmf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-22_zpsqeyhrrmf.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We arrived at the front of the castle and left by a path that leads to its back. A family from Hong Kong was taking a group portrait to remember their visit to this monument of Japan's shogunate history.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-23_zpslzjoegla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-23_zpslzjoegla.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The icing on the cake... Thing is, which is the icing, which is the cake? Haha</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-24_zpsfutrucij.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Castle-24_zpsfutrucij.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the sakura in full bloom and the classical Japanese architecture of Osaka Castle awash with the warm glow of sunset, I am thankful for the opportunity to see this grand site at its most beautiful time!</span></td></tr>
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Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-79053865023413059992016-06-19T19:11:00.000+08:002016-10-03T08:31:17.107+08:00Osaka (Japan) - Dotonbori : Big Lights & Big Signs<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 31 Mar 2016<br />
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Every city has its icon or signature district and Dotonbori (also spelt Dotombori) in Namba is Osaka's loud and unabashed declaration of the city's personality and stake to fame. Being here actually made me feel small because everything about this electrifying commercial enclave is so larger-than-life, I felt as if I've been shot by a shrink ray. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-01_zpsoh4f8o1r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-01_zpsoh4f8o1r.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Flanking Dotonbori Canal that cuts across Osaka's Namba district, the radius of streets and buildings in the vicinity is collectively known as Dotonburi. It is the downtown hub for food and entertainment and the area is served by a number of the city's underground rail network (MRT in Singapore's context).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-02_zpsuj4fpjz6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-02_zpsuj4fpjz6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Glico Man! Finally I get to see it in person after all the photos and frame a shot with its reflection on the bridge I was on. Friends have lamented that internet photos killed the mystery of discovering a place but I find a thrill in reaching my own perspective to appreciate a scene that so many have photographed. <br /><br />It is not about seeing but feeling the energy and interpreting the magic of a place in our own ways that make travelling worthwhile despite the photos and thoughts that have been shared online.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-03_zpsmjhenc5w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-03_zpsmjhenc5w.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are winners! Doing what everybody does with the Glico Man signboard. The reminder that running is good for health was installed in 1935 as a static billboard before being upgraded to an animated LED signboard in the 20th century. The billboard gets updated with customised imageries during special events such as when Japan bid for the World Cup in 2002.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-04_zpsajdvv3yp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-04_zpsajdvv3yp.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">But the humungous LED signboards that lined Dotonbori Canal are just an appetiser to the real treat behind them... the massive food and shopping streets that sprawled in all directions and the giant sculpted signboards!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-09_zpsk0ydg1fw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-09_zpsk0ydg1fw.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Japanese are so good at making wax miniatures of food but in Dotonbori, I see that their talents in making plastic look delicious take on a mammoth scale. The food street of Dotonbori is filled with giant signboards advertising mouthwatering food!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-05_zps5zhctfox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-05_zps5zhctfox.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps the most famous of the 3D gigantic signboards that spun many copycats is this monstrous 6.5m installation of the Japanese Snow Crab. The legs and eyes move as if it is alive!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-07_zpsafpkgcbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-07_zpsafpkgcbg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Giant octopus advertising a shop that specialises in Takoyaki (octopus balls).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-06_zpsq9gapkua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-06_zpsq9gapkua.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pufferfish lantern... a sure sign that tells you the specialty of the restaurant it advertises. We came here to try a 6-course fugu meal. Click <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/06/japan-osaka-dining-with-death-fugu.html" target="_blank">here</a> to find out more.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-08_zpsguvny7zr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-08_zpsguvny7zr.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This looks really creepy!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-10_zpspvq2ufpn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-10_zpspvq2ufpn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The giant advertising mascots don't just go on the wall, but in the ground as well. These phallic whatevers look like some serious angry food that can do some real damage.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-11_zpsgebw2gsu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-11_zpsgebw2gsu.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Quite a few shops selling Takoyaki (octopus balls) along the street and we decided to spend on this one because it had a long queue during our visit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-12_zpsdwmkdm3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-12_zpsdwmkdm3b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grill baby grill... 5 for approximately S$4.50 and 10 for S$8.50. Our strategy at Dotonbori food street was to buy small so that we can sample more different foods.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-13_zpspebvrq5t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-13_zpspebvrq5t.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Takoyaki was piping hot with flakes and condiments melting all the succulent octopus balls. As I bit into one of them, a milky center oozed creamy hot filling onto the tongue.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-14_zps9lhllxoj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-14_zps9lhllxoj.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bring the drag on... This fearsome creature of Chinese mythology that seem to have too much make-up on is the mascot for Kinryu Ramen (</span><span style="font-size: small;"><a class="ilxP2CS_L_KE-6WH35iSZ2V0 rllt__link" data-akp-oq="金龍ラーメン 道頓堀店 Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan" data-cid="9125397581080082891" data-rtid="ilxP2CS_L_KE" data-ved="0ahUKEwi2hsmK87PNAhUJv48KHaBqCt4QvS4IPjAB" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" role="link">金龍ラーメン)</a>, a popular ramen chain restaurant. Just along Dotonbori street alone, we saw 3 outlets and one of them had a really long queue. That many mouths can't be wrong so we decided to fill up here for the night's dinner.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-15_zpscilgwpwb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-15_zpscilgwpwb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After purchasing meal tickets at a vending machine outside the restaurant, we handed them over to the service staff and they prepared our orders. Huge pots are fuming in the kitchen like the firey belly of a dragon.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-16_zps8xrozkqp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Dotonbori-16_zps8xrozkqp.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A satisfying bowl of pipping hot ramen with pork slices that cost <span class="st">¥600 (S$7.70) for regular size and </span></span><span class="st"><span style="font-size: small;">¥600 (S$10.30) for a large bowl with more noodles and meat. What I liked about eating here is that there's free-flow kimchi, pickled vegetable and minced garlic. Anything with all-you-can-eat garlic would almost instantly become my favourite. But my breath after that? Not so favourite with friends.</span></span></td></tr>
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The number of street food stalls and restaurants at the very lively Dotonbori are staggering. So it is best to come here hungry and eat your way down the flashy district awash with lights and Godzilla-sized signboards. And after dinner, there are plenty of retail shops around the area to browse for souvenirs and walk off the calories!Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-92010237656778819322016-06-18T23:59:00.000+08:002016-10-03T08:31:39.288+08:00Osaka (Japan) - Dining with Death : Fugu Feast at Dotonbori<b>Date of Savouring :</b> 2 Apr 2016<br />
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Japanese cuisine may have spread to major cities all over the world but there's one dish that remains tightly guarded within the home of the samurais. That deadly fish dish is called <i>fugu,</i> a Japanese delicacy that both warns and warms the palate of any daredevil gastronome.<br />
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Fugu is the Japanese name for pufferfish (a.k.a. blowfish, globefish, balloonfish, and swellfish) and has its roots in a local term that means "swell up". In Chinese, pufferfish is called <span class="st">鰒鱼 </span><i><span class="st">fù yú</span></i> <span class="st">and is often nicknamed </span><span class="st">河豚 </span><i><span class="pinyin">hé tún</span></i> (meaning "river piglet"), so it is common to see these Chinese characters used in restaurant signages and menus in Japan. If I have my way, I would nickname it "durian fish", but "river piglet" befits the adorable and comical way the fish looks when it puffs up with water (in sea) or air (on land) when threatened. And I have a soft spot for piglets, but that's another story.<br />
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I was hoping to get a taste of fugu during this Japan trip, not
because I have a death wish, but I was curious to find out why, when
there is no lack of safe for consumption fish species in the oceans, the Japanese
would risk poisoning by biting into this forbidden fruit. <br />
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Although Tokyo has the highest number of fugu restaurants numbering around 3,000 throughout the city, we didn't come across any. Neither did we see the giant pufferfish lanterns, a sure sign that advertises fugu restaurants, in Kyoto or <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/06/japan-nara-day-trip-to-nara-park.html" target="_blank">Nara</a> so you can imagine the fireworks that went off in my gut when I sighted the ballooned fish hanging on a shop's facade in Osaka's glittering Dotonbori street!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-01_zpsrjewblbf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-01_zpsrjewblbf.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I didn't understand a word of the Japanese signboard but the fugu lantern was enough to hook and reel me in. On closer inspection, the English name of this restaurant is Zuboraya Dotonbori. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-02_zpseytk9akh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-02_zpseytk9akh.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Zuboraya Dotonbori has a range of fugu dishes to choose from its ala carte menu as well as meal sets for 2 to 8 people. Typically, a fugu feast doesn't come cheap. If the poison doesn't kill you, the bill would. A meal course consisting of 6 dishes could range anything from S$100 - S$250 per person depending on the origin of the fish, chef's reputation and complementing ingredients.</span></td></tr>
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We had a very pleasant experience at Zuboraya although sitting on the floor to dine in authentic Japanese tatami style (with shoes off) made me wish I did more yoga. So now that I've salivate all over death, what did it taste like? Was it memorable like a deep and passionate love affair, or a forgettable pleasure easily replaced by another? Read on if you want to find out... :)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A License to Slice </span></b><br />
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In order to serve fugu, chefs must go through a 2-year licensing course where they study and practice disarming the poisons from fugu for human consumption. The most poisonous parts of a pufferfish are the liver, ovaries, testicles, entrails and eyes, which the chefs must skillfully remove without contaminating the flesh of the fish.<br />
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The preparation protocol is that all the poisonous organs that are removed must be deposited inside a plastic bag which is then sealed and placed into an air-tight container so that they don't mix with other wastes.<br />
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At the end of the licensing programme, the apprentices have to go through a stringent certification exam which qualifies them as safe hands to eat fugu from. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-03_zpsstbtflp5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-03_zpsstbtflp5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The chefs may be certified safe but each individual's body may react differently to varying degrees of fugu meat's chemical profile. Frankly, I was a little worried that I wouldn't survive the meal but seeing that there are so many diners, I guess there's nothing to worry about. Being able to write this blog post, obviously meant that I'm more poisonous than the fish. So I survived. LOL.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Die While Alive</b></span><br />
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What makes dining on pufferfish so deadly is the presence of a class of neurotoxins known as tetrodotoxin in its organs. Different pufferfish species have varying concentrations of the toxin in different parts of the body.<br />
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Tetrodotoxin is colourless, ordourless and resistant to heating and is 1,000 times more deadly than cyanide, causing death through paralysis of the muscles and organs in the body, especially the lungs, leading to breathlessness and suffocation. Victims remain mentally conscious and alive but are unable to move their bodies as tetrodotoxin invades. The toxin paralyses the diaphragm and causes a shut down of the respiratory system. What follows is a terrifying death where you are fully aware of what's going on around you but slowly dying from asphyxiation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-08_zpsnk4r4uf1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-08_zpsnk4r4uf1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">6 ways to reach your last breath... A typical 6-course fugu feast consists of fugu sashimi, fugu sushi, fugu tempura, fugu udon, fugu hotpot and a porridge to soak up the fugu-infused stock at the end. And that's what we ordered for </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">¥5,400 (S$68.70)</span> at </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Zuboraya Dotonbori</span>. The meal feeds two. </span></td></tr>
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If you've ingested a fatal dose of tetrodotoxin through fugu, you'll
feel it within 20 minutes and you're pretty much a goner. For this
reason, people who are suicidal have used the pufferfish as their last
meal. In cases of medium to mild poisoning, the effects may be felt
anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours. These cases usually survive the
effects of poisoning.<br />
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Although tetrodotoxin is very dangerous, the irony is that it is that which makes fugu such a
thrilling dish, not because of the potential of death, but the
numbing, tingling sensation on the tongue and lips when just the right
amount of the poison is present. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-04_zpsa6y5hbx7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-04_zpsa6y5hbx7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fugu skin and flesh sashimi... This is the favoured way to savour the unadulterated flavours of fugu, but also the most deadly. But the fugu sashimi we had was from farmed fish because the ocean-caught ones would cost much more and more dangerous for consumption as they would contain tetrodotxin.<br /><br />The
thrill of eating wild fugu sashimi is that if trace amounts of
tetrodoxoin is present in the skin and meat, it will cause a tingling
and numbing sensation of the tongue and mouth area. But it is hard to
determine what's the safe level for each individual diner and amateur
chefs may not know the proper ways to disarm the toxin. These
uncertainties lead to poisoning and the possibility of death. Yet, this is the thrill that gained fugu its fans. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Safe-to-Eat Farmed Fugu</b></span><br />
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An interesting fact I found out is that pufferfish aren't actually poisonous. They acquire the tetrodotoxin from their diet of starfish and shellfish. These food sources contain a bacteria that causes tetrodotoxin during metabolic processes and the pufferfish is able to harness the poison and store it as a biological defence. Does that mean I should stop eating starfish and shellfish too?<br />
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Did you frown incredulity at the mention of starfish and thought maybe I made a mistake because starfish is not known as a culinary ingredient in Singapore? Well, I didn't. In Hong Kong, and maybe some other parts of the world, I've seen dried starfish sold as condiments to flavour soups. I bought two packets and experimented in the kitchen before. They imparted a mildly distinct taste in my soups that made me imagine what sucking on a moist seashell must taste like with every spoonful.<br />
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By understanding how pufferfish acquire tetrodotoxin through what they eat rather than producing the poisons themselves,
there are now fugu farms in Japan that breed and rear poison-free pufferfish. A lot of what's supplied to fugu restaurants nowadays are the farm-bred versions of the wild species where their feed is devoid of bacterial tetrodotoxin contamination. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-05_zpslqhn446f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-05_zpslqhn446f.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fugu sushi was another way our taste-buds were led to experience pufferfish differently. </span></td></tr>
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There are over 100 species of pufferish worldwide but only about 20 species are approved for consumption in Japan after a trial-and-error that first took place over 2,000 years ago. Today, Japan is a pioneer is developing fugu that is devoid of poison through farming and eliminating tetrodoxin-inducing food sources. Despite this safety guarantee, fugu is one dish that can never be served to the emperor of Japan.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Culinary Cult Culture</span></b><br />
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So what's the fun of eating "safe" fugu if it is just like any other fish? Admittedly, I was a tad disappointed that my fugu meal was most likely from farmed fish rather than from the ocean. I didn't verify with the restaurant but I assumed farmed fugu is used because of its prevalence due to its safety for consumption. And the price was more affordable. Wild caught fugu would've cost more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-06_zpskjrtqrcc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-06_zpskjrtqrcc.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fugu Udon... my first encounter with cooked fugu and I found myself drawn to the firm texture of the meat.</span></td></tr>
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As a point of reference, the Tiger Pufferfish (<i>Torafugu</i>) which is an unfarmed wild caught species and considered a gourmet (the "kobe beef" of fugu) costs about 22,000yen (S$280) per kilogram; while the Mafugu, a schooling species (you catch one, you catch many) and also farmed, costs less than half that price.<br />
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As you can imagine, the fugu connoisseur would hunt down premium or secret restaurants serving Torafugu while tourists like me get all excited over farmed fugu meat. Wild or farmed, fugu has a cult-like following in Japan and is the most exotic food to eat in the country.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Is Fugu Worth the Hype?</b></span><br />
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Taste-wise, I find the fish's meat to have a firm chewy texture and kinda sweet. It is pleasantly mild flavoured and easy on the palate but nothing exceptional. Without the tingling sensation that tetrodotoxin causes, the poison-free version of fugu is just like eating any other fish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-07_zpsmfxro5ez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-07_zpsmfxro5ez.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fugu tempura.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-09_zpsaggeahpw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-09_zpsaggeahpw.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raw chunks of fugu to be cooked in a hotpot.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-10_zpsjbh0avwf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Osaka-Fugu-10_zpsjbh0avwf.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The hotpot broth was used to cook a rice dish at the end of the dinner course to put a full-stop to our fugu taste journey. It was really a full stop because by the time we stopped eating, we were so full.</span></td></tr>
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Fugu is famed because of how it numbs the mouth because of tetrodotoxin and people risk death to enjoy it. So the toxin-free version of the fish lacks any real distinguishable draw to eat it really. It is like looking at a shark in an aquarium.<br />
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For the amount we paid for the dinner for two, I would say it is reasonable just to try what a fish that is not commonly found in most markets around the world taste like. I wasn't hooked on this dish but it sure makes for an interesting travel tale to tell given the pufferfish's dangerous reputation. Give it a try when you're in Japan!Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-45396251550396514892016-06-04T23:45:00.000+08:002017-11-04T21:47:31.141+08:00Nara (Japan) - A Day Trip to Nara Park<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 2 Apr 2016<br />
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When we planned a day trip to Nara Park, my intention of coming here was to see the park's famed tame deer. But at the end of my visit, I can't help but marvel at the buffet of experiences I had been served. The park has a unique and delicious mix of natural, cultural, and architectural flavours that few places in Japan, or anywhere else in the world can emulate.<br />
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Our excursion to Nara Park was part of the Osaka leg of my first trip to Japan's mainland, which also covered Tokyo and Kyoto. On the intended day of our Nara Park day trip, the weather in Osaka was rainy and gloomy so we checked the <a href="http://www.jma.go.jp/en/week/" target="_blank">Japan MET forecast</a>, saw that the following day was sunny in Nara, and decided to switch our plans to go Nara Park the next day. Boy were we glad we did. Visiting the park during a beautiful day of spring was sublimely splendid! So check the forecast before you visit and retain some flexibility in your itinerary to respond to the weather condition.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Getting to Nara Park (from Osaka)</b></span><br />
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Nara Park is at the centre of Nara City within Nara Prefecture and it is easily accessible from Kyoto or Osaka. The city of Kyoto, Nara and Osaka form sort of a triangle relative to each other with Nara in between the other two cities.<br />
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There are two main train services that link Kyoto and Osaka to Nara. One is the <b>Japan Railways (JR) </b>train and the other is the <b>Kintetsu</b> train. Where possible, choose the Kintetsu railway service as the station is located closer to Nara Park (about 10 minutes walk) while it takes around 20 minutes to walk to Nara Park from the JR Nara Station.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y8Gkc-MD6HYLnuS4WsZbmnv1-B5GInlmECzYX7KVAgxogncD0eEVSat-DgYmgtbmVfYm2lROngrZXoLcVq3ZFmmHV4WKaqNU21H_Kd-CUVCtY4jHeTaNRZxWSKWXjUF7EQw35U-ziYs/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y8Gkc-MD6HYLnuS4WsZbmnv1-B5GInlmECzYX7KVAgxogncD0eEVSat-DgYmgtbmVfYm2lROngrZXoLcVq3ZFmmHV4WKaqNU21H_Kd-CUVCtY4jHeTaNRZxWSKWXjUF7EQw35U-ziYs/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
stayed at Osaka's Namba district and there was a direct Kintetsu railway
train to Nara. Ticket price was ¥560 (approx. S$7) and it took us about
40 minutes on the express route. It can be quite confusing when taking
the rail services as the same route is served by different trains.<br /><br />As
a general rule, any train that goes the normal route will stop at every
station between two points while "limited express" will stop at limited
stops between the same two points.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Along the way, we sped past neat rows of low rise houses
and buildings as well as fields that stretches towards the city nucleus.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRusffNFUFDHlBnYpRSoOTcuXfxaUdjZ2T7v4ilHsD1nCSv-5nJrbVWjW4_AV8mE-p5s72ZE0zapA25kGbQkdzqQfthwflu-9B41Hn1ahNjyTPaZFUSQ99L_7OeTNND0DG14HQVmJroPg/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRusffNFUFDHlBnYpRSoOTcuXfxaUdjZ2T7v4ilHsD1nCSv-5nJrbVWjW4_AV8mE-p5s72ZE0zapA25kGbQkdzqQfthwflu-9B41Hn1ahNjyTPaZFUSQ99L_7OeTNND0DG14HQVmJroPg/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We made the mistake of getting on a normal route train
but thankfully we asked the other passengers on the train and a college
youngster, though he spoke almost no English, did his best to get us to
alight at the last stop that the limited express train would stop and
board it. He did it by accompanying us to get off at the stop and
pointing us to board the express train even though it was out of his
way. <br /><br />I was so impressed by his hospitality and very grateful because the
express train skipped stopping at around 8 stations that the normal
train would pick up passengers and that saved quite some travel time.
The longest travel time on the limited express train between two
stations without any stop is about 25 minutes so do go to the toilet before boarding.</span></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nature, Culture and Architecture</span></b><br />
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This post is a brief summation of my visit to Nara Park with an overview of what I encountered and experienced. Key attractions and activities at Nara Park include <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-deer-moments-at-nara-park.html" target="_blank">deer feeding</a>, visiting <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-kasuga-taisha-shrine-of.html" target="_blank">Kasuga Taisha Shrine</a>, <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-todaiji-great-eastern-temple.html" target="_blank">Todaiji Temple</a>, Kofukuji Temple, Nara National Museum and enjoying the lush gardens throughout the park. We didn't managed to cover everything and you can click on the highlighted links above of what we managed to do for more detailed information.<br />
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We left our hotel at about 10am to go to Nara Park and ended the visit
at about 5pm so plan for a full day trip and go even earlier than us in
order to see everything at the park. <br />
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The first thing that made my heart skip were the free roaming deer we came across as we got closer to one of the entrances of Nara Park. I didn't expect to see a deer so soon and thought it would be a matter of luck to see them but no, they were everywhere! And if you bought their favourite snack (<i>shika sembei</i> deer biscuit) from one of the street vendors, you won't be left alone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOa4WrI4Q_HpBgPT1yMOV77gIngqrQ0sRq8hnY-j6hFeSD2eUe0T9sR0fYbtmb5zuGqzIKMYjsRTKc68XuQiTIMuJPEHciiC0s0_OXBl2occvfXgrHFpkHDVglrz_JeI7S4I43sjVDDA/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOa4WrI4Q_HpBgPT1yMOV77gIngqrQ0sRq8hnY-j6hFeSD2eUe0T9sR0fYbtmb5zuGqzIKMYjsRTKc68XuQiTIMuJPEHciiC0s0_OXBl2occvfXgrHFpkHDVglrz_JeI7S4I43sjVDDA/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You don't
have to look for the deer at Nara Park. They look for you if you have
their addiction on hand... their favourite biscuit - <i>shika sembei</i>.
It is okay to feed, pet and get close to the deer but keep in mind that
they are wild beasts, abet accustomed to humans, so have an eye out for
aggressive behaviour and avoid those that are intrusive.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUx4oysTJ6qU82aSRZvyzqDMgmd_HeAbFlrn2OEhsE78wjyYu1Q1aX5kRaFv7d3zk_w88w1est9aBu7Uz2ZhIsT10viE_sjo_RJHnctYJ1rZEmaoZ4cvJam0ZypCHThCCwIi3ZRVti_k/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUx4oysTJ6qU82aSRZvyzqDMgmd_HeAbFlrn2OEhsE78wjyYu1Q1aX5kRaFv7d3zk_w88w1est9aBu7Uz2ZhIsT10viE_sjo_RJHnctYJ1rZEmaoZ4cvJam0ZypCHThCCwIi3ZRVti_k/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">吵架了。Looks
like they had a quarrel and are not seeing eye-to-eye. Well, in any
relationship that is close, it is inevitable that each others' coat get
ruffled once in a while. It is a test of the strength of the union and
the depth of letting-go-ness. Strong ones will grow stronger through the
trials, and the unstable ones will snap.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ubmSlL9NxYnEDevJ3gpbwzQ62T_Lh7LGvHnwNOHYdKrg0L-qBDr7wwlJVF45gERomWSrjfXuhjaIc8jO9evuUsDJ-3uPvADE1lFgWN0IUt2VJuD1zLpDMYxFkU-NbJCkh-OXnMdkrOo/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ubmSlL9NxYnEDevJ3gpbwzQ62T_Lh7LGvHnwNOHYdKrg0L-qBDr7wwlJVF45gERomWSrjfXuhjaIc8jO9evuUsDJ-3uPvADE1lFgWN0IUt2VJuD1zLpDMYxFkU-NbJCkh-OXnMdkrOo/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some beg, others snatch, but most would bow to be fed. Click <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-deer-moments-at-nara-park.html" target="_blank">here</a> to learn the trick of feeding the Nara Park deer.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cXMbCP1at9QcAoWz6e9nfDy5isUxvzk2N-bR6BKVzlXY60a7LBZyI9h61tqnD2ktJUUc3M82AEgsASV7AQNeudGGI6D8aGgjWVVBkCYbnL3W34eAs577c392BPXOoR23GAOHpUrjzQU/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cXMbCP1at9QcAoWz6e9nfDy5isUxvzk2N-bR6BKVzlXY60a7LBZyI9h61tqnD2ktJUUc3M82AEgsASV7AQNeudGGI6D8aGgjWVVBkCYbnL3W34eAs577c392BPXOoR23GAOHpUrjzQU/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This scene
looks like one of those drawings I made in my childhood years as part
of those psychological assessments that predict your personality based
on where you placed elements such as tree, river, house, mountain, sun,
etc.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLhD73-YKUhMmTJofJodDZyYLa3BcTwgwZxeSGKHrwPST3r5nrx50FOsvwpxhRir-dMb6SZhBjz4MKteJUVSHaY6ShH15BB-ggZsDNPWboaQA65O-5MHqQaPS6pb-SJ-Inua3Rz5aUIM/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLhD73-YKUhMmTJofJodDZyYLa3BcTwgwZxeSGKHrwPST3r5nrx50FOsvwpxhRir-dMb6SZhBjz4MKteJUVSHaY6ShH15BB-ggZsDNPWboaQA65O-5MHqQaPS6pb-SJ-Inua3Rz5aUIM/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first
site of historical importance we came to was Kofukuji Temple. It adjoins
a five-tiered pagoda that was built in 730 and has become an unofficial
symbol of Nara.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_U9L7_H-hFe9XaxUW6ExWMlPXgMFLBmOgblhAkQBYbQc9kg-jyaNyOdOqac6EsDH9U2iK0Eoe9FF4T5s3WqMR-yQerT-1sUD_rJHis7AqCD1U0VIBJNoMI-CpdUHv_c63xUguy16_3o/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_U9L7_H-hFe9XaxUW6ExWMlPXgMFLBmOgblhAkQBYbQc9kg-jyaNyOdOqac6EsDH9U2iK0Eoe9FF4T5s3WqMR-yQerT-1sUD_rJHis7AqCD1U0VIBJNoMI-CpdUHv_c63xUguy16_3o/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A museum (not the Nara National Museum) that we passed by while on our way to Kasuga Taisha Shrine.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbF-wpVnhJ2hGz39QR3l5KWyonhTRvoouN5pAR94vI6Kk6lD3xJGc4jhYXWNtiZnr1QPFGBsiYrz5-D-Qu_tDLs9fCMDjJLBm26zjO3db2bwvowPhjs7MxjJ7cpLNTEoqo0GZ-bUWO3Jw/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbF-wpVnhJ2hGz39QR3l5KWyonhTRvoouN5pAR94vI6Kk6lD3xJGc4jhYXWNtiZnr1QPFGBsiYrz5-D-Qu_tDLs9fCMDjJLBm26zjO3db2bwvowPhjs7MxjJ7cpLNTEoqo0GZ-bUWO3Jw/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The middle gate (<i>chumon</i>) of Kasuga Taisha, which is a Shinto shrine and stands out from other shrines because of its...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwh83cNKcPgiK6y9YeA_CJfbLZjIhWU4n4_YO-G7QIlTXKok_IvMvZXXmSeYIC86VgnxAyj80AlRsZh1vUMR1QUG3c8vk_TSRg4_AOqT9zfvBZcsvHyPzkt_5cSXIVNTX3_d2ktWKQz9k/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwh83cNKcPgiK6y9YeA_CJfbLZjIhWU4n4_YO-G7QIlTXKok_IvMvZXXmSeYIC86VgnxAyj80AlRsZh1vUMR1QUG3c8vk_TSRg4_AOqT9zfvBZcsvHyPzkt_5cSXIVNTX3_d2ktWKQz9k/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">... countless stone and bronze lanterns that decorate and surround the shrine grounds. Read more about Kasuga Taisha <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-kasuga-taisha-shrine-of.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeagEUV9BzFmNneMNVXNKT_pFhbgsYFofQuU3T7-3BaC27K7GI6tTTERCw3UqdMQQzYB7E0GjKf9TjO0uA0Rcp2Fy94Lv9JjiMJMd1AgfSJXoCW7fTIfTsgrRsWAUH7o9qfoFa1ybv5s/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeagEUV9BzFmNneMNVXNKT_pFhbgsYFofQuU3T7-3BaC27K7GI6tTTERCw3UqdMQQzYB7E0GjKf9TjO0uA0Rcp2Fy94Lv9JjiMJMd1AgfSJXoCW7fTIfTsgrRsWAUH7o9qfoFa1ybv5s/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From
Kasuga Taisha, we walked over to Todaiji Temple, one of Japan's most
historically and culturally significant places of worship. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuFiS50_lfZz2whA8S_wq_iqT0F6wUx0vwBWlGgxTekB_sNeepM0_Pq3r4yhUCv2vNDpH0TJpeTxdnbI4L18itJmn7lVjBoS8W01vyE-r2Uz1Ur4lTeg3W9dWy7Gl55QLd3anP_3dY24/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuFiS50_lfZz2whA8S_wq_iqT0F6wUx0vwBWlGgxTekB_sNeepM0_Pq3r4yhUCv2vNDpH0TJpeTxdnbI4L18itJmn7lVjBoS8W01vyE-r2Uz1Ur4lTeg3W9dWy7Gl55QLd3anP_3dY24/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The attraction at Todaiji, and it's hard to miss, is the giant Buddha. Read more about Todaiji <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-todaiji-great-eastern-temple.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nara
Park consists of many gardens and parks that offer rewarding sights
during different seasons. We came during the beginning of spring marked
by the blossoming of sakuras and an explosion of pink blanketed the </span><span style="font-size: small;">Kasugano-enchi Park near Todaiji Temple.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMtAR7yC3zcKGJ2jDnc9GRKChyLmZO474tyC8gHXTz3CLyhdqCVeg40euFOXglv7KJr3fDf3gtbrJ4-rwX-TYo_N-lJFa1BzT_E-gkOrCpM23k55_TBeSQ8R0cwlNVxMiHk5Ai_EFaHU/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMtAR7yC3zcKGJ2jDnc9GRKChyLmZO474tyC8gHXTz3CLyhdqCVeg40euFOXglv7KJr3fDf3gtbrJ4-rwX-TYo_N-lJFa1BzT_E-gkOrCpM23k55_TBeSQ8R0cwlNVxMiHk5Ai_EFaHU/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Upclose with one of the <i>yaezakura</i> (cherry blossoms with flowers that have more than 5 petals) species.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWxxYPQTjauO_yeSny3pEpojdT5GhzUAGq6w_kdlkxYan1IfCFmwMI55Ysb6wzBKzUrVNgrsqAloc4ovI8JV8kp4rnb8CkywPnZ35L_vIQhQT_5k5bljgJmXeUU1jC6qmX_rHVLGIaF8/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWxxYPQTjauO_yeSny3pEpojdT5GhzUAGq6w_kdlkxYan1IfCFmwMI55Ysb6wzBKzUrVNgrsqAloc4ovI8JV8kp4rnb8CkywPnZ35L_vIQhQT_5k5bljgJmXeUU1jC6qmX_rHVLGIaF8/s1600/Nara-Day-Trip-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The roof
poking out from the trees is that of Todaiji Temple. We ended our
excursion to Nara Park at Kasugano-enchi Park. The sun was beginning to
set and painted the far sky with crimson hues. Surrounding the park were
sakuras in full bloom and a wide expanse of grassy field in front of
us. I didn't think the scene was particularly captivating, but it was
beautiful because of the company I had to see it with.</span></td></tr>
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<b>Related Posts :</b><br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-deer-moments-at-nara-park.html" target="_blank">Deer Moments at Nara Park</a><br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-kasuga-taisha-shrine-of.html" target="_blank">Kasuga Taisha Shrine of Lanterns</a><br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-todaiji-great-eastern-temple.html" target="_blank">Todaiji : The Great Eastern Temple of Shingon Buddhism</a><br />
<br />Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-70655097797212465752016-05-14T00:22:00.001+08:002016-10-03T08:32:20.903+08:00Nara (Japan) - Todaiji : The Great Eastern Temple of Shingon Buddhism<b>Date of Exploration : </b>2 Apr 2016<br />
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Ranked amongst one of Japan's most important historical landmarks and a major Buddhist temple in the country, <a href="http://www.todaiji.or.jp/index.html" target="_blank">Todaiji</a> (東大寺 Great Eastern Temple) is an attraction that matches the nation's religious devotion in scale and presence.<br />
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We almost skipped a pop over to this crowning jewel of Nara because we underestimated the time we would spend with <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-deer-moments-at-nara-park.html" target="_blank">Nara Park's deer</a> and at <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-kasuga-taisha-shrine-of.html" target="_blank">Kasuga Taisha Shrine</a>, the famous Shinto shrine of lanterns. But thankfully, we made it and were glad we didn't let a non-visit become that thing we regret not doing during a trip. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-01_zpsvspppdnr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-01_zpsvspppdnr.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Todaiji's Big Buddha Hall (<i>daibutsuden</i>) is the largest wooden building in the world.</span></td></tr>
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The temple has an understated
magnificence that is both commanding yet humble at the same time. It is grand beyond any doubt. But it is also inviting, unassuming, and rather serene despite the throngs of people visiting the sacred site.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Getting to Todaiji - Look Out for Deer by the Water</b></span><br />
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We came to Todaiji after visiting <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-kasuga-taisha-shrine-of.html" target="_blank">Kasuga Taisha Shrine</a> by following signposts that pointed the way. The two religious attractions are not too far apart and took us only about 15 minutes to walk between them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-03_zps3at2yudh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-03_zps3at2yudh.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the path leading to Todaiji's Great South Gate (<i>Nandai-mon</i>), we crossed a bridge over what looked like a dried up pond and in it were... deer! We've already taken many, many deer photos since we set foot in Nara but we just cannot <i>tahan</i> not photographing them at every change of scene we see them in. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-04_zps92he3caq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-04_zps92he3caq.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Synchronised head turning. As I was shooting the deer in front, I realised that the deer behind synchronises its gaze with the front one. When the front one looks at me, the back one looks too and when the front looks to one side, so does the back deer. Is this adorable or creepy? LOL.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-05_zpsryd6ycim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-05_zpsryd6ycim.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We fell into the "deer trap" again and spent quite some time here photographing them although Todaiji was nearing its closing time. Fortunately, we managed to stop the deer from hijacking our cameras anymore and managed to explore Todaiji.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Todaiji's Nandai-Mon (東大寺南大门)</b></span><br />
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Completed in 1203, the Nandai-mon or Great South Gate has architectural influences from China's Sung Dynasty and is the largest temple gate entrance in Japan. This is the Godzilla of Japanese gates.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-02_zpst3hoahno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-02_zpst3hoahno.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The amount of foot traffic to Todaiji was crazy during our visit which coincided with sakura season.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-06_zpsuj4qu2n7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-06_zpsuj4qu2n7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Made entirely out of wood, the original Nandai-mon was destroyed in a typhoon and the current day's structure is a rebuilt version dating back to the 12th century.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-07_zpsz8tmpr0e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-07_zpsz8tmpr0e.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over 25m tall, the south gate has 18 massive pillars that come from single trunks of trees. Two colossal guardian deities each standing at 8.4m height are found on each side. Known as the two kings of Todaiji, the duo is part of the Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王) who guard the four cardinal points. The other two are found inside Todaiji's Main Buddha Hall.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Picturesque Todaiji</b></span><br />
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I find it fascinating to see how Buddhism is translated into a
plethora of architectural styles... from the colourful and ornate <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2012/01/penang-khoo-kongsi.html" target="_blank"><i>jian nian</i> (cut-paste </a><span class="st"><a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2012/01/penang-khoo-kongsi.html" target="_blank">剪粘)</a> roofings characteristic of China's Chinese temples</span> to the all-seeing eye hallmark of Tibetan temples to the flambouyant gold-gilded <i>wats</i> of Indochine (<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2011/11/bangkok-muang-boran-ancient-city.html" target="_blank">Thailand, Laos, Myanmar</a>) surrounded by a proliferation of stupas (with the exception of <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2009/01/siem-reap-9-centuries-in-3-days.html" target="_blank">Cambodia</a>'s
favour for sandstone) to Japan's colour-subdued, minimalist zen approach
to temple buildings.<br />
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The compounds of Todaiji have a lot of space and an understated beauty that when paired with the season's flourishing sakura blooms, make for postcard-perfect photographs to relish a visit with.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-08_zpshfnwuodt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-08_zpshfnwuodt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Passing through Nandai-mon, we came to yet another gate where entrance tickets to Todaiji are sold (<span class="st">¥500 per entry for adults)</span>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-09_zpswlwdqvyt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-09_zpswlwdqvyt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And finally we got to lay eyes on Todaiji with the sakuras in bloom! The temple compound is very neat and picturesque.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-10_zpsy0meoal4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-10_zpsy0meoal4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Framing Todaiji with the weeping fuchsia variety of sakura. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-11_zpsttt0mlok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-11_zpsttt0mlok.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">That essential "I'm here" shot :o) The thing that's as big as the temple is my expanding waistline from all that feasting on Japanese <i>donburis</i> (rice bowl dishes) and <i>ramens</i> (noodles).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-12_zpsnrtb6lsd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-12_zpsnrtb6lsd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A intricately carved octagonal </span><span style="font-size: small;">bronze</span><span style="font-size: small;"> lantern greeted us as we got nearer to the temple and I got a closer look at the motifs that adorn the prayer hall's entrance doors.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-13_zpsvnenr4lm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-13_zpsvnenr4lm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Upper facade of Todaiji Temple.</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">House of Giants</span></b><br />
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Small is not in the vocabulary of Todaiji as everything
about it is larger-than-life. Huge gates, big entrances, towering
pillars, and gigantic statues... instead of making me feel small, it's
as if the temple made me a bigger person just from trying to contain the
sight of its sheer size.<br />
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Beyond the main prayer hall's entrance door, a collection of massive sacred statues that hold significant cultural as well as historical significance await tourists and devotees. But before entering Todaiji, check out the temple's version of Little Red Riding Hood...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-25_zpsdwbkmeue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-25_zpsdwbkmeue.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To the right of the temple is an 18th century wooden statue of Binzuru (Pindola Bharadvaja), one of the 4 arhats (enlightened disciples, much like the saints of Christianity) that Buddha requested to stay on earth to spread Buddhism. <br /><br />Binzuru is a master of mystical powers and the Japanese believes that if you touch a part of Binzuru and subsequently rub your hands on a corresponding part of your body, you will receive healing of ailments affecting that body part. As the statue is elevated, the only parts that can be touched are the lower limbs region. Too bad if you're suffering from asthma or headaches.<br /><br />Just for fun, I touched the foot of Binzuru like the guy in the photo and touched both my feet as I've been suffering from plantar fasciitis, which is the pain that stretches the length of the sole for many months, and guess what? My condition improved tremendously after I returned from the trip! I'm a skeptic when it comes to such religious healing stuff and I've clean forgotten about this touching ritual I performed until I write this blog post and remembered what I've done and made that connection about the improvement in my condition. Then again, it could be that my condition was already on its way of getting better and it was just a coincidence that I followed the ritual (for the fun of assimilating myself as a local) even though I didn't believe in it.<br /><br />Sharing this anecdote, I'm not advocating that the ritual works, but just musing about the forgotten correlation. If there is even one at all. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-14_zpsbocriyox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-14_zpsbocriyox.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Om... This Main altar of Todaiji with a 15m tall giant Buddha (<i>Daibutsu</i>) that is one of the biggest in Japan.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-16_zpsgcswri7c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-16_zpsgcswri7c.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every time I visit a Buddhist temple in a different Asian region or country, a distinct style of architecture and decoration is apparent although some elements such as the lotus motif is common. Even though we believe in different gods / prophets, the message of love, compassion, tolerance and peaceful coexistence is common.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-15_zpsysu5oeto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-15_zpsysu5oeto.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The giant Buddha was completed in 752 and went through several rounds of restoration, once when its head fell off during a major earthquake in 855. The last restoration works were done in 1185 (body) and 1692 (head). The statue is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara and a National Treasure.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-17_zpsb9hmpgax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-17_zpsb9hmpgax.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To one side of the giant Buddha is a gilded statue of Kokūzō Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of wisdom and memory... I sure need lots of these two qualities! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-18_zpsmusnhni5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-18_zpsmusnhni5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the temple are the remaining two of the Four Heavenly Kings who guard the four cardinal points. This one is Komoku-ten, king of the west and lord of limitless vision who can see through evil.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-22_zps7w5hu7z9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-22_zps7w5hu7z9.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The other Heavenly King in Todaiji is Tamon-ten, king of the north and the lord who hears all. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-19_zpsky96vqvz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-19_zpsky96vqvz.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you need a helping hand with life's problems?</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-20_zps7bskthnz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-20_zps7bskthnz.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Or give those problems the middle finger and carry on!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-21_zps2vvyiqur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-21_zps2vvyiqur.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bas-relief of Zocho-ten (king of the south, lord of spiritual growth) on the left and right is that of Jikoku-ten (king of the east, guardian of the nation).</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do You Want to Attain Enlightenment?</b></span><br />
<br />
From the towering proportions of Todaiji's religious statues, we now shrink our attention to a hole at the base of one of the pillars in front of the Tamon-ten image.<br />
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The hole is the size of Daibutsu's nostril and it is said that if you can squeeze yourself through one side and come out the other side, you will be able to attain enlightenment in your next life. So if you want to attain enlightenment, pretend you're a thread trying to pass through the eye of a needle! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-24_zpss2595puc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-24_zpss2595puc.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Squeezing through the hole is a very popular activity in Todaiji and there's a long queue to try being Buddha's booger. I didn't put myself through it because the hole can obviously fit only small children and very, very petite adults.<br /><br />Or it can act as a measuring device to determine if it's time to lose weight. If you can pass through, you are fine, but if you stuck, it's a heavenly sign to give up <i>char kway teow</i>! </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-23_zpssf9ijifo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Japan/Todaiji-Temple-23_zpssf9ijifo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">But I think the hole is a measure for innocence and purity, for only the pure of heart can attain enlightenment. So my interpretation of this activity is that... in order to be "enlightened", we must first cultivate our hearts and thoughts so that they are innocent and pure like that of a child.</span></td></tr>
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I'm Christian by upbringing and faith so this passing-through-a-hole thing reminded me of a verse in the Gospel of Luke [18:25] where Jesus said : "<span style="font-size: small;">Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." This sentiment is also reflected in the Islamic Quran [Verse 7:40] and Jewish sentiments as a metaphor to anything that is impossible...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">UNLESS </span><br />
<br />
... "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Gospel of Matthew [18:4].<span class="p"></span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p">I see a similarity across religions despite the differences in the definitions of who/what is god. It is not easy to get into heaven or achieve enlightenment. It takes humility, not hostility. It requires compassion for fellow humankind, not destruction of innocent lives.</span><br />
<br />
<i>Whoops</i>... there I go again rambling about the interpretations of things I saw instead of providing more useful visitation information about Todaiji. Please pardon me. This Japan trip had been very special for me and I wanted to recount and reminisce every bit of it as a way of reliving, and then recovering from, the depth of my love and filing it as a beautiful memory. If only there's a god to pray the heartbreak away.<br />
<br />
<b>Related Posts :</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-kasuga-taisha-shrine-of.html" target="_blank">Kasuga Taisha Shrine of Lanterns</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-deer-moments-at-nara-park.html" target="_blank">Deer Moments at Nara Park</a>Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-79740182594984033452016-05-08T00:27:00.001+08:002017-11-04T21:45:07.561+08:00Nara (Japan) - Kasuga Taisha Shrine of Lanterns<b>Date of Exploration : </b>2 Apr 2016<br />
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It wasn't easy to break free from the adorable <a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-deer-moments-at-nara-park.html" target="_blank">deer of Nara Park</a> but when we finally managed to break free from their disarming cuteness through restraint from taking any more photos of them, we finally made our way to <a href="http://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/about/index_en.html" target="_blank">Kasuga Taisha</a> (Kasuga Grand Shrine <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">春日大社</span></span>).<br />
<br />
A key attraction in Nara City, Kasuga Taisha Shrine is famous for the thousands of stone and bronze lanterns that crowd its vicinity as well as within its walls. The number of lanterns I came across was truly bewildering!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqOn4ESkZRQW32fhd2iWBRhyphenhyphenU51kcZZLz1WUhsdkfPrrdmJ5PWCcMPSQrbi4HhXionOO01I5I-cf3rT8wg9t394LlVKahYpl29uk_H1QY2lZ4ROaRDnj-Ye6ummsdZ-8WrqQuqsyG-RI/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqOn4ESkZRQW32fhd2iWBRhyphenhyphenU51kcZZLz1WUhsdkfPrrdmJ5PWCcMPSQrbi4HhXionOO01I5I-cf3rT8wg9t394LlVKahYpl29uk_H1QY2lZ4ROaRDnj-Ye6ummsdZ-8WrqQuqsyG-RI/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Through its countless lanterns, Kasuga Taisha Shrine shines as one of Japan's most unique devotional expression of Shintoism.</span></td></tr>
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Established in 768AD, the shrine has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 and stands today as a living architectural record of the period where Japan began to move out of the shadow of China.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Getting Here - Follow the Path of the Stone Lanterns</b></span><br />
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Getting to Kasuga Taisha Shrine takes about 30 minutes on foot cutting across Nara Park from the Kintetsu Nara Station. However, our journey took triple the time because we fell under the charms of the park's free ranging deer, stopping often to snap photos and buying special deer biscuits to feed them.<br />
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It also took us a bit of asking around to get on the right path to the shrine because while there maps around the park, there weren't many signposts to point the way. Or perhaps we missed the signages because we were constantly distracted by scouting for photo opportunities with the deer. The way to Kasuga Taisha Shrine is pretty straightforward and we knew were on the right path when we started spotting the shrine's iconic stone lanterns.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMa9J2yMrtHG1d3shP_rMddjD6yn5tJXT7EF-eo3gekyjWO3vmtbU3qR-zyi9LYRMKsYokSaTSpxJDWlsQFcqD-da0WZcyj-iwFE5No3bBiOE-MhyJ3Z-EQn1ecD1kh2txI3dfLnay7Y/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMa9J2yMrtHG1d3shP_rMddjD6yn5tJXT7EF-eo3gekyjWO3vmtbU3qR-zyi9LYRMKsYokSaTSpxJDWlsQFcqD-da0WZcyj-iwFE5No3bBiOE-MhyJ3Z-EQn1ecD1kh2txI3dfLnay7Y/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Follow the path of the stone lanterns that line a rustic trail leading to Kasuga Taisha Shrine.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzmo3ZwgHjbZg6zWeAXh4gGHdcSEjIo3Z9oPPpJBllBZFpFUIbdbCeQOTtMlrauATymF6SspUIoK-K-XI3XKilZ487P45_i0Nq7zzF1vSPJL-8SY13GqiuQVsWKQPjgfJKTKOLuDYcGs/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzmo3ZwgHjbZg6zWeAXh4gGHdcSEjIo3Z9oPPpJBllBZFpFUIbdbCeQOTtMlrauATymF6SspUIoK-K-XI3XKilZ487P45_i0Nq7zzF1vSPJL-8SY13GqiuQVsWKQPjgfJKTKOLuDYcGs/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">More deers
along the way milling in and out of the forest and stone lanterns. When
you come to a split road, take the path on the right to reach the front
entrance of Kasuga Taisha Shrine. The path on the left is for people who
are leaving the shrine.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKnAxH8rpj7O9APt42B-Ezxhg7uwQzgcdFzU2hW6fqOHDneZs4aySBMKEoGdUcgov7kuyeo4HBkTO5KJs_r1_q0RjIPqm1sf5T_mLBNXMgoewdxYw3EiUrEkcwdMGu_gPiQPj8MJWUJU/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKnAxH8rpj7O9APt42B-Ezxhg7uwQzgcdFzU2hW6fqOHDneZs4aySBMKEoGdUcgov7kuyeo4HBkTO5KJs_r1_q0RjIPqm1sf5T_mLBNXMgoewdxYw3EiUrEkcwdMGu_gPiQPj8MJWUJU/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I told
myself no more deer photos but couldn't help shooting more as the
scenery changes from Nara Park's forested setting to the ancient frame
of Kasuga Taisha Shrine's stone lanterns to lens the deer in. This buck
poking its head out amongst the stone columns is so <i>kawaii</i> hor? :o)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Entering the Realm of the Kamis</b></span><br />
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Kasuga Taisha is a Shinto shrine that is dedicated to four minor folk spirits / deities (<i>kami</i> in Japanese) :<br />
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<b>Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto</b> (god of thunder) - Also known as Kashima-no-kami, he is often depicted as subduing a giant catfish that causes earthquakes <br />
<b>Futsunushi-no-mikoto </b>(spirit of swords) - Priests performing rituals and rites typically bear a Nihonto sword<br />
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<b>Amenokoyane-no-mikoto</b> (ancestor of the Nakatomi clan) - He is the protector deity of the clan and a guardian appointed by the goddess Amaterasu omikami to guard a divine mirror; and he is enshrined with a <b>Himegami</b> (female consort deity)<br />
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<i>* The suffix "-no-mikoto" is an honourary title given to a spirit or venerated person that connotes 'winged being'</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_JCc_7UP3yEH75oXX_wz_Gy401liK9-7rsMslInR1lTWGLZIAO1Da10vsrzdNm1j9ocXcoB4y56rIvdoP-gsBvJWy1e2uNn8a5WHs0ik1tR2-mbPSVvLpoAQnU4iY6XC2nZyoajZrVs/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_JCc_7UP3yEH75oXX_wz_Gy401liK9-7rsMslInR1lTWGLZIAO1Da10vsrzdNm1j9ocXcoB4y56rIvdoP-gsBvJWy1e2uNn8a5WHs0ik1tR2-mbPSVvLpoAQnU4iY6XC2nZyoajZrVs/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The crimson arch (<i>torii</i>) marks the perimeters of the shrine and the path (</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>sandō</i>)
leading to Kasuga Taisha Shrine's main entrance gate. The number of
stone lanterns intensifies as you get closer to the entrance gate. As my
visit coincided with the sakura season, an explosion of pink blooms
cascaded over a section of the stone lanterns next to the entrance gate.
So pretty!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Vl-rudonUIgNIsgmYTa0sEk3jnozpfgsaO81nEQV2w-fxEksCRUKHyUwuBWASCSjV0F2y0UCrfHr7yRTiJA2iuNY3x9a4jn_08kwjGcJMnKpST56S2VLYq91sTZPvT2_zhgDWG02i1g/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Vl-rudonUIgNIsgmYTa0sEk3jnozpfgsaO81nEQV2w-fxEksCRUKHyUwuBWASCSjV0F2y0UCrfHr7yRTiJA2iuNY3x9a4jn_08kwjGcJMnKpST56S2VLYq91sTZPvT2_zhgDWG02i1g/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An
assembly of stone lanterns fringes the entrance gate of Kasuga Taisha
Shrine with a glorious pink sakura tree punctuating the scene
beautifully.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoPv2WwFDPKRk4-47v8HldMOMZBtIc0dxskJzbQYp2mu_B08BBAYyL4kAVSMGIR-Bg4aF8PzOBDipPsRQrW6d9I5VUGnnNvTmyKVTnR5NxGQnptz93tqlt8H85l0LdR55YowWPW1XY08/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoPv2WwFDPKRk4-47v8HldMOMZBtIc0dxskJzbQYp2mu_B08BBAYyL4kAVSMGIR-Bg4aF8PzOBDipPsRQrW6d9I5VUGnnNvTmyKVTnR5NxGQnptz93tqlt8H85l0LdR55YowWPW1XY08/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">While it's free to browse around the area in front of the offering hall just after the entrance gate, a fee of </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="st"><span style="font-size: small;">¥500
is collected for entry into the inner prayer halls. We were curious
about the inside so we paid the fee at the counter where a deer spirit
boy extends his hand out as if asking for money. There are also wooden
cards, some shaped as the head of a deer, that can be purchased to write
wishes on and hung at the shrine. </span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA8HXlILRvUHx_f9rPPCrIHR4yPNl4eg52mDihMP4iAUK0RglHpeC86ZpeKNkXqkVRXjgc_VFueInz9KkXx675PO3d0bksawFBTTnrIvLn_Fn-3DuusYOW-N-y_EMgTI13SyCj8vTvaA/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA8HXlILRvUHx_f9rPPCrIHR4yPNl4eg52mDihMP4iAUK0RglHpeC86ZpeKNkXqkVRXjgc_VFueInz9KkXx675PO3d0bksawFBTTnrIvLn_Fn-3DuusYOW-N-y_EMgTI13SyCj8vTvaA/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Inside the shrine's compound, hanging bronze lanterns took over from the stone ones. This is the <i>chumon</i> (middle gate) flanked by <i>oro</i> (roofed veranda) that guards the shrine's main sanctuary which houses the shrines of the 4 <i>kamis</i>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3skPGtFLoCnIfbIrwEp3EOYIQuj7_nrOPKhjLbQb6tOvx_bjt9wYIfTV741Dv2dvessRt4lhG3AYmUsuLBQq3ZafyKSd2CJWqL9f3t4L7ukW7v9-tHPsoiUvTz1MpkOmty424KGOFc8/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3skPGtFLoCnIfbIrwEp3EOYIQuj7_nrOPKhjLbQb6tOvx_bjt9wYIfTV741Dv2dvessRt4lhG3AYmUsuLBQq3ZafyKSd2CJWqL9f3t4L7ukW7v9-tHPsoiUvTz1MpkOmty424KGOFc8/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-14.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Framing the <i>chumon</i> with a pair of stone lanterns that are more ornate than the ones seen outside the shrine. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN3ClGQO7w6PW0gkFKGRSgXFwMASucMHtjUO7yp_BmNCYSpGv7EdDt5s2jFTdM6kN1rcSut1aPgeqSBTJBKAweznADKmG5fOvwAsDpi8uj00JZ8wZIbTLZOvNNtOFwyL0LHhziHfSkKk/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN3ClGQO7w6PW0gkFKGRSgXFwMASucMHtjUO7yp_BmNCYSpGv7EdDt5s2jFTdM6kN1rcSut1aPgeqSBTJBKAweznADKmG5fOvwAsDpi8uj00JZ8wZIbTLZOvNNtOFwyL0LHhziHfSkKk/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We could
walk around the veranda corridors that surround the main sanctuary but
entry into the sanctuary is not allowed and so we didn't get to see the
classical Nara architecture of the 4 spirit houses.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOtYN6oJHB6qdLmjdRIHbe6wZWn2LbbRoicI-9AiFtJp2jU86zuBu_VaHQvXGPooRjPp4RyJshUnsR7snl4rMJ1Ad9pgXMTyIwkz20nwtV8meCdTi5pC3cNFSBUtexCQVC1S8lZjLJGM/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOtYN6oJHB6qdLmjdRIHbe6wZWn2LbbRoicI-9AiFtJp2jU86zuBu_VaHQvXGPooRjPp4RyJshUnsR7snl4rMJ1Ad9pgXMTyIwkz20nwtV8meCdTi5pC3cNFSBUtexCQVC1S8lZjLJGM/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are approximately 3,000 lanterns in and around the
shrine and they are lit twice a year... once in early February, and
another in mid August. This angle can be shot at the free zone without having to pay to go in. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53ErPb2pQueqelDfo-z1GPwohj9_Hb5jnKjwmynORSqgSSSSgeNRn3zHq6f9AB_FNdQ58d_ikNuVkCLfx5KVmiu5xLt6QNy3aPt6xktiUq8S2BjP3W5Rf_pSfMw28HHCfdlR_8KfB8iE/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53ErPb2pQueqelDfo-z1GPwohj9_Hb5jnKjwmynORSqgSSSSgeNRn3zHq6f9AB_FNdQ58d_ikNuVkCLfx5KVmiu5xLt6QNy3aPt6xktiUq8S2BjP3W5Rf_pSfMw28HHCfdlR_8KfB8iE/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Where do the lanterns come from? They are donated by devotees.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX20CVITucW0dlHLPYt-T3YlKQNWatQGSH_4IiCX8sCZQnKBOS2AFL5WoM6jaTx4No2oqEnboJs6OJ46BF7ax9QOF4_icZhDZTNdVPzw1xATyYMEJlkyWPxUoDq2Tpz9uu-n00V0t0j-c/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX20CVITucW0dlHLPYt-T3YlKQNWatQGSH_4IiCX8sCZQnKBOS2AFL5WoM6jaTx4No2oqEnboJs6OJ46BF7ax9QOF4_icZhDZTNdVPzw1xATyYMEJlkyWPxUoDq2Tpz9uu-n00V0t0j-c/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nobody lights a lantern to see the sun.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjSNC1VxqycXAGaMtdUhWR74IhUJ40dSLy34FwOgtpIxT1Xkhrd5gCEn4ouxpDBSAlMpUXDVy55Z1UHYOqKrTKVxM6rLFk5_khdHGQdTrQiYrHhYxq7CgazqFkRASQdx_fIsn95Ks8Fk/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjSNC1VxqycXAGaMtdUhWR74IhUJ40dSLy34FwOgtpIxT1Xkhrd5gCEn4ouxpDBSAlMpUXDVy55Z1UHYOqKrTKVxM6rLFk5_khdHGQdTrQiYrHhYxq7CgazqFkRASQdx_fIsn95Ks8Fk/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If I wore green, I could be that superhero who charges up his power with lanterns!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmVyEAllsbnr7V9ZDpDBKt-guYUh6fqcIj2-2Q0P6J5ZyKkfhNuGOAVp8rLWOFy04XloaCZdVU0hi6xz_8TchgQOXcYZ0yyYceQD1q9iArfuP-cB-CWn0LX7QCIfCvLVpLhjdkSMhjOo/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmVyEAllsbnr7V9ZDpDBKt-guYUh6fqcIj2-2Q0P6J5ZyKkfhNuGOAVp8rLWOFy04XloaCZdVU0hi6xz_8TchgQOXcYZ0yyYceQD1q9iArfuP-cB-CWn0LX7QCIfCvLVpLhjdkSMhjOo/s1600/Kasuga-Taisha-Shrine-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you
can't wait till February or August to see the lanterns lighted up,
there's a dark room towards the back where you see what they look like
when lit.<br /><br />The lantern needs the candlelight to shine, or it'll
just be an empty shell; and the candle needs the lantern to protect it
or it might get blown out. The candlelight is like the soul and the
lantern is the body. Our soul gives purpose our body and we must keep
our body strong to allow the soul to keep shining. <i>Cheem boh</i>? LOL. </span></td></tr>
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<br />
There are actually a lot more things to see around Kasuga Taisha Shrine. There is the Kasuga Taisha Shinen Manyo Botanical Garden, a Treasure House and 12 shrines along a path outside the southern side of the main shrine complex. The shrines that are dedicated to 12 gods of luck. <i>Looks like Lady Luck no longer needs to work alone now. </i><br />
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Among the shrines is the Meoto Daikokusha shrine, which is the only shrine in Japan dedicated to married deities. In other words, this is a love shrine for those who want to pray for a good match or for a blissful marriage. Too bad we didn't get to visit. If we did, maybe we wouldn't have become me.<br />
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For opening hours, fees and more information, do visit the two links below that I found very helpful :<br />
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<a href="http://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/index.html" target="_blank">Kasuga Taisha Official Site</a><br />
<a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4102.html" target="_blank">Japan-Guide.com Kasuga Taisha</a><br />
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<b>Related Posts :</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-deer-moments-at-nara-park.html" target="_blank">Deer Moments at Nara Park</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-todaiji-great-eastern-temple.html" target="_blank">Todaiji : The Great Eastern Temple of Shingon Buddhism</a>Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-80346018527401252102016-05-05T04:17:00.001+08:002017-11-04T22:48:46.358+08:00Nara (Japan) - Endeering Moments at Nara Park<b>Date of Heavy Petting : </b>2 Apr 2016<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Okay, enough. This will be the last deer photo or we won’t have time to
check out the other sights in Nara,” I announced after umpteenth shots of the
critters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-ms-layout-grid-mode: char; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Yes, we should keep moving and not stop to take more photos of the deer,” Lucas
agreed while contorted in an awkward squat to frame yet another deer portrait.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After we reached that agreement, I lost count of the number of times we repeatedly
made those statements to each other, over and over again. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">We just couldn't stop ourselves from taking photos because the deer are just too adorable</span>!</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ltow931sg23eFY9F6B691j1BD2EnoUZDue6TGKuFTQ_TyrEdqK3OVzNPItJQYJLMuoLHbLdp08ke_9TQf44Fg5iOPGoeNLEoslGBZ47O0hx_gXfseMBUw6zl3Eg9Fxlq68b3ZnqcOZ4/s1600/Nara-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ltow931sg23eFY9F6B691j1BD2EnoUZDue6TGKuFTQ_TyrEdqK3OVzNPItJQYJLMuoLHbLdp08ke_9TQf44Fg5iOPGoeNLEoslGBZ47O0hx_gXfseMBUw6zl3Eg9Fxlq68b3ZnqcOZ4/s1600/Nara-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You
know how it is almost impossible to get an animal to look into the
camera when taking a wefie and this just happened! Priceless :o)</span></td></tr>
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Deer being such timid and elusive animals who shy well away from human contact, I was rather apprehensive about our chances of up-close encounters but my fears were unnecessary. Deer are everywhere! There are adult male deer (buck), female deer (doe) and their younglings (fawn) all over the park.</div>
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We encountered our first deer not too far a walk from Kintetsu Nara Station (the nearest train station to the park) and it was non-stop snapping of those furballs from then on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZjAJutt5uovDXsUKdUNvyGt4kkfNWzAdXtpHnydShzh6RkVwRq8LT7A7-KRn1vAeBlumt6Ejbzb447heLSbmFyrZhNEePUTFg81JlyudmlgPh7jnGWDZC6YqPk5h_d4T29ykk_6lRJk/s1600/Nara-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZjAJutt5uovDXsUKdUNvyGt4kkfNWzAdXtpHnydShzh6RkVwRq8LT7A7-KRn1vAeBlumt6Ejbzb447heLSbmFyrZhNEePUTFg81JlyudmlgPh7jnGWDZC6YqPk5h_d4T29ykk_6lRJk/s1600/Nara-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Warning... Cuteness ahead.</span></td></tr>
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There are around 1,200 free-roaming wild deer in the park and they are considered a national treasure in Japan. In Shinto (a Japanese folk religion), the deer is a messenger of the gods and held in high regard, much like cows are sacred to Hindus.<br />
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Other than posing for photos with the deer, we could also feed and for some, pet them. The deer we came across were mostly very tame with a couple who nibbed at my t-shirt to be fed special deer biscuits that are sold around the park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1x3za01I7O6Yw_0NlIo5reZZf4mpljeCkPyMc25pL0wGjr1t4_xBuhnomNWObf588Ro6C6DqPFqR6XwBVAIGh8nXiinNH6MatxSqIXKAmCEpRy2FMbiPGiuxBo2Kkj3HfZ7HcwtfCw8/s1600/Nara-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1x3za01I7O6Yw_0NlIo5reZZf4mpljeCkPyMc25pL0wGjr1t4_xBuhnomNWObf588Ro6C6DqPFqR6XwBVAIGh8nXiinNH6MatxSqIXKAmCEpRy2FMbiPGiuxBo2Kkj3HfZ7HcwtfCw8/s1600/Nara-05.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A sure way to attract the deer to you is to arm yourself with shika sembei (deer biscuits). A bundle sells for <span class="st">¥150 and there are vendors selling them throughout the park. This <i>obasan</i>
was rather fierce though, don't attempt taking a photo of her and the
biscuits unless you want to be scolded. If I spoke Japanese, I would
tell her that I only wanted on record of how a biscuit sales station
looks like.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzSPdVVI6W2gdmjV7xIeN52XudaoZkLu-Bp47L70mpZrqMYZ1mQ5fA2XUVWfbU7D2YvLpDxuSD9fsvl6Oem8NoTu4XTg5mBH93R6_LIaOBKWremJL4gbEoaiS1pePTMxV72Hrr17B9aU/s1600/Nara-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzSPdVVI6W2gdmjV7xIeN52XudaoZkLu-Bp47L70mpZrqMYZ1mQ5fA2XUVWfbU7D2YvLpDxuSD9fsvl6Oem8NoTu4XTg5mBH93R6_LIaOBKWremJL4gbEoaiS1pePTMxV72Hrr17B9aU/s1600/Nara-06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As soon as I got the biscuit, a buck suddenly became my biggest fan and wouldn't let me out of his sight.</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Deer Feeding at Nara Park</span></b><br />
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There is a special technique when feeding Nara's deer. You can make them bow before being given the shika sembei. Here's how...<br />
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<b>Step 1 :</b> Break a small piece of the biscuit and hold it over the head of the deer, beyond its reach. It will start to bow its head. You can then reward it with the treat or...<br />
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<b>Step 2 :</b> Put your hand with the biscuit behind your back. The deer should bow a second time.<br />
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<b>Step 3 :</b> Then place the biscuit over its head again like Step 1 and the deer will bow a third time. That's when you give it the biscuit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo5Q-WbnVEN7GUg0aDdgD-o9ht1XLq9AVoA-KclF6ZxdK1AgUXS4DmVpFhktmyKPnhemu_GqRdE-8VypZvCbIb5CK4Qf-vN0pudXZhyphenhyphenmv3OP4pcAWpOr3WUlsZYmr_w42-vqvCzFG8j8/s1600/Nara-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo5Q-WbnVEN7GUg0aDdgD-o9ht1XLq9AVoA-KclF6ZxdK1AgUXS4DmVpFhktmyKPnhemu_GqRdE-8VypZvCbIb5CK4Qf-vN0pudXZhyphenhyphenmv3OP4pcAWpOr3WUlsZYmr_w42-vqvCzFG8j8/s1600/Nara-07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I placed a
biscuit piece over the head of a buck and it bowed! So polite! But
mostly, to cut short the teasing process process, most of the deer
automatically start bowing when they see you holding treats.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__g1vCVnS5N0tZRKghMC-pMN8uDkWwze4zXwjM0QlEkmVkZXowxOPjhmAzmKc3tDNrSly93mjqReo0nXFJzj2DW_R4PqmhTaRbEqecUFYb6HqWOJG1enhkSEclXqpbn_IYxtP5xSo33A/s1600/Nara-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__g1vCVnS5N0tZRKghMC-pMN8uDkWwze4zXwjM0QlEkmVkZXowxOPjhmAzmKc3tDNrSly93mjqReo0nXFJzj2DW_R4PqmhTaRbEqecUFYb6HqWOJG1enhkSEclXqpbn_IYxtP5xSo33A/s1600/Nara-08.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was
one of the earliest deer I encountered and fed it the most. It started
to follow me around for a bit. Such a dear it was. Being at Nara Park
felt like walking into a huge play pen of cute furry pets.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
The species at Nara Park is known as Sika Deer (Japanese spotted deer) that are reddish brown in colour with spots on their backs (think Bambi). In Mandarin, they are known as 梅花鹿 (plum blossom deer). However, the deer grow a coat of thicker brownish coat which hides their spots during winter.<br />
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We came during the sakura season in Japan (late March to early April when winter transits to spring) and the deer have yet to shed their winter coat so we didn't see the characteristic spots. The species is also sometimes known as whitetail because, well, the following photo explains it...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqLnHqBPEvBObGuvFM2Gpm8cAeDt6QE5pBgB6sXotNj1U09F4gthbe5Xfoua0n123BohnKmG5Wm3rICdn3DHEuIu4GHywYzA6hmqz47-Yb5E0PLYU5l8jxxMzDehqTpx_PDUhKmvmQx4/s1600/Nara-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqLnHqBPEvBObGuvFM2Gpm8cAeDt6QE5pBgB6sXotNj1U09F4gthbe5Xfoua0n123BohnKmG5Wm3rICdn3DHEuIu4GHywYzA6hmqz47-Yb5E0PLYU5l8jxxMzDehqTpx_PDUhKmvmQx4/s1600/Nara-11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We saw an
elderly couple who were like the godparents to the deer because they
just gathered around them and allowed them to stroke, touch and caress
them. When I tried to do that, even with the biscuits, the welcome was
still wary.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVAwbh32VfJCzJ1GE5wKfcC0WV5w2QRWeSNU9m8hN1xKmIKUsdSx167GTeGRZuFaDsSh3LlNmcTZSNZtgDmPb28mmsQK0P9I9zwbwqkAH4BcteJz6PIcpoTv5-ikN7OOHyWAORM8QWz4/s1600/Nara-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVAwbh32VfJCzJ1GE5wKfcC0WV5w2QRWeSNU9m8hN1xKmIKUsdSx167GTeGRZuFaDsSh3LlNmcTZSNZtgDmPb28mmsQK0P9I9zwbwqkAH4BcteJz6PIcpoTv5-ikN7OOHyWAORM8QWz4/s1600/Nara-09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">梅花鹿与梅花树!
The sakuras were in bloom and made for a wonderful backdrop to
photograph the deer. What's not so wonderful was the hordes of tourists
during Japan's busy cherry blossom season... and I'm one of them.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHjHTvVo0vUIvYGMhQif6c4iRMmz6a5UCYTuSZVj9Hp0_-LaTmTtXpD2JVw1uzJWHfLC8zDMA5_j5RJTzA59uqoklUtFadvinxPZ1LRMFzx7RKqfFzGlEFkVQfr0U1Xhzu2oS4hUcrCg/s1600/Nara-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHjHTvVo0vUIvYGMhQif6c4iRMmz6a5UCYTuSZVj9Hp0_-LaTmTtXpD2JVw1uzJWHfLC8zDMA5_j5RJTzA59uqoklUtFadvinxPZ1LRMFzx7RKqfFzGlEFkVQfr0U1Xhzu2oS4hUcrCg/s1600/Nara-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">buck and
his doe. It's not easy to meet a partner who will be by your side. Sika
Deer are not monogamous and bucks will mate with more than one female.
But it's nice to see this pair being soul mates, even if it's just
temporary.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiZR-9b1-EfbknDE9XTCeMa_vQX8Nt9-m8XI7LeytNElDdfvxcOrmnY1sExp1c700ljdV0A-YC6E8sMFMRQeGs9zL7ksH4U9s_n0YJDbE-5UteeuX_EgFy7-s-ANPpZBbUWz4Ip3hvAU/s1600/Nara-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiZR-9b1-EfbknDE9XTCeMa_vQX8Nt9-m8XI7LeytNElDdfvxcOrmnY1sExp1c700ljdV0A-YC6E8sMFMRQeGs9zL7ksH4U9s_n0YJDbE-5UteeuX_EgFy7-s-ANPpZBbUWz4Ip3hvAU/s1600/Nara-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A buck
peeping out from the corridor of stone lanterns at Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
The shrine is one of the key attractions at Nara and presents a
markedly different backdrop to photograph the deer in. So fortunate to
bump into the moment when this fella popped its head out in the cutest
manner with ears pointing forward!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7E_d7OqF-dm0CqF6Iaz5_1Zvcgt5EKvLDRfsYC9nrDpBEYt4KXIGvqVCl_fmv-V4UddoObew_H4HZ3-4NbtTqZejleptLFvH753Pyx022HpH4S7qZEL8KtV6MUtzseA0_1rw7sX5pXI/s1600/Nara-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7E_d7OqF-dm0CqF6Iaz5_1Zvcgt5EKvLDRfsYC9nrDpBEYt4KXIGvqVCl_fmv-V4UddoObew_H4HZ3-4NbtTqZejleptLFvH753Pyx022HpH4S7qZEL8KtV6MUtzseA0_1rw7sX5pXI/s1600/Nara-12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A fawn
that was molting its winter fur and sprouting little antlers on its
head. Adult bucks in Nara Park have their antlers cut-off yearly during a
ceremony in October. The cutting of the antlers is a safety precaution
for visitors as the antlers are actually weapons of the deer deployed
during mating season to battle for the right to inseminate females.<br /><br />The
antlers go through a growth cycle of about a year where they become
fully formed by winter and automatically drop off during spring for a
new set to grow. When the antlers are in their growing phase, they are
covered in a coat of velvety hair that transports blood and oxygen to
form the antlers. The material used to grow the antlers are similar to
the organic material of human fingernails. Once the antlers mature,
where blood supply no longer feed their growth, they start to harden and
die off so cutting the antlers at this stage does no harm to the
animal. It's just like us cutting our finger or toe nails.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ke0_hPHpsivC9eqTd7yGMjtYN6cHa3YePXOZnpI7j9QaWqzoQ2D9SKzwVtejXtD_ipC8tLZ7MRTyHZ4A5D66r18s2GGjJMGOqS2Yg8lo3JGGbMzHBWiGI7B-ABMHDvSj0-sSs8wmb-I/s1600/Nara-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ke0_hPHpsivC9eqTd7yGMjtYN6cHa3YePXOZnpI7j9QaWqzoQ2D9SKzwVtejXtD_ipC8tLZ7MRTyHZ4A5D66r18s2GGjJMGOqS2Yg8lo3JGGbMzHBWiGI7B-ABMHDvSj0-sSs8wmb-I/s1600/Nara-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The deer
at Nara are wild animals so they retain their basal instincts even
though they are accustomed to humans. The older are familiar with
tourists and can be aggressive in demanding biscuit treats but the
younger fawns don't like human contact and will sprint away if people
get too close. But they are the cutest and hard to resist a more
intimate encounter. <br /><br />I stood in place for quite some time with
biscuits in hand to make this pair comfortable with me before taking
this up-close shot of the young ones.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg3iYqnBdD7qbPawZX3yY7awX9DARWmauHeLk1WfFTEh5XttWJFW-dgM7WDwt5xdcfvoXv9WBlBbP5QN_IhwGqRlaPwgxxzOLr75XeJOou0tC5Iqgmxs-lvZjVBjDxQoaRnChah0Go1o/s1600/Nara-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg3iYqnBdD7qbPawZX3yY7awX9DARWmauHeLk1WfFTEh5XttWJFW-dgM7WDwt5xdcfvoXv9WBlBbP5QN_IhwGqRlaPwgxxzOLr75XeJOou0tC5Iqgmxs-lvZjVBjDxQoaRnChah0Go1o/s1600/Nara-13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If a deer
is sleeping, I would refrain from going close to them to allow them
their rest but I swear these were awake when I approached for a shot and
petting them. I think they were closing their eyes hoping for a sweet
dream rather than the nightmare that has descended. LOL. But seriously,
if a deer is sleeping, leave it alone and let it rest.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Coming to Nara and meeting the resident wild Sika Deer was one of the crowning highlights of my trip to Japan because it is not everyday that we can get so intimate with these docile, gentle beasts.<br />
<br />
Oh what dear (deer) moments to remember a trip to Japan by! :o)<br />
<br />
<b>Related Posts :</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-kasuga-taisha-shrine-of.html" target="_blank">Kasuga Taisha Shrine of Lanterns </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://explorelah.blogspot.sg/2016/05/japan-nara-todaiji-great-eastern-temple.html" target="_blank">Todaiji : The Great Eastern Temple of Shingon Buddhism</a> Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892381597528847151.post-28334464755623871452016-04-16T02:12:00.000+08:002017-04-18T01:06:37.851+08:00Johor Bahru - Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple<b>Date of Exploration :</b> 24 Mar 2015<br />
<br />
<span class="st">Stowed away at the end of a nondescript plain lane next to Johor Bahru's Tebrau Highway, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arulmigu-Sri-Rajakaliamman-Glass-Temple/123785504358843?rf=146109285452865" target="_blank">Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple</a> is what I would call a 'genie in a bottle'... where a big personality is trapped inside a small existence. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">My curiousity to check this place out was seduced by the temple's claim to be "the first glass temple in the world", but other than the temple being covered in tiny pieces of mosaic mirrors reminiscent of some of the sparkling <i>wats</i> (Buddhist temples) in Thailand, what fascinated me more were the statues that I found inside. </span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<b><span class="st" style="font-size: large;">Getting to Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple</span></b><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">Not to be confused with Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam Temple, which is a major Hindu temple in JB a stone's throw away from City Square Mall, Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple is a much smaller and lesser populated monument of faith. It is also not too far from City Square Mall.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">While it is possible to walk from Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple from City Square Mall by walking along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak (which is an arterial main road fronting one side of the mall) it is easier to just take a cab there which will cost under RM10 from the JB immigration checkpoint. The journey takes under 10 minutes without a traffic jam so it is pretty accessible.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-01_zpsop4xidyh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-01_zpsop4xidyh.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Signboard next to Tebra Highway that advertises the site of Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple. My suggestion is to print out photos of the temple and show it to cab drivers as they may think that you are going to the more prominent </span><span class="st"><span style="font-size: small;">Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam Temple instead of this one.</span></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Mirrors, Mirrors on the Temple...</span></b><br />
<br />
... who's the shiniest of them all? Personally, when I first arrived at <span style="font-size: small;">Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple</span>, I was like "We're here already?" I was expecting something more bewildering than the petite, <i>can't tell it's made of glass</i> temple before me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-02_zpsidgjfxeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-02_zpsidgjfxeb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Facade of Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple, the first glass temple in the world.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Compared to the Thai wats with massive chedis adorned with coloured,
mirrored glass pieces I'd come across in Bangkok, this seemed rather
'little gas' (小气) and not world's-first-something kind of wow. The temple's brag unlocked my jaw. But unfortunately, it didn't drop.<br />
<br />
But on closer examination, it does present a marked differentiation from conventional Hindu temples that are coloured solely by paint or terracotta and not a mix of paint and hued mirror tiles.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-03_zps0vagpscm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-03_zps0vagpscm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Containing the colourful gopura of the temple within an eyeful of my sunglasses.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-04_zpsgfixa5wr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-04_zpsgfixa5wr.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The structural form of the gopura is covered in a mosaic of mirrored tiles but the Hindu deities and statues are painted.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-05_zpsyn1mt8oz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-05_zpsyn1mt8oz.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We arrived at 2:24pm on a Tuesday because according to online sources, this is when the temple is open to foreign visitors. But we faced this door, although beautiful, it wasn't open! We hung around the closed doors and chased down the occasional humans walking around the temple and realised that it's closed for a special prayer session. But if we waited till 3pm, which is half an hour later, the doors will open.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-07_zps3igb7iay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-07_zps3igb7iay.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So we spent the minutes clicking away at the colourful mirrored doors of the temple. On hindsight, it is lucky that we encountered the temple when the doors are closed so we can truly appreciate geometry of the mirrored decorations.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-06_zpsmjw95ahk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-06_zpsmjw95ahk.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">30 minutes later and the doors are still shut. So I went round to the back of the temple and waited to sight anybody to inquire if temple wasn't receiving visitors that day or we should wait some more. I was told the temple will open shortly. So we waited...</span></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-04a_zpsrtu6qei7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-04a_zpsrtu6qei7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A rudimentary stone statue of Shiva guarding the entrance to Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple. It is an inheritance from the temple's early beginning as a shrine in 1922.</span> </td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-08_zpsm9oocq52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-08_zpsm9oocq52.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, after almost an hour's wait (we arrived at 2:24pm), the doors were open at 3:20pm! According to online sources that have links to the temple, foreigners' visitation hours are between 1pm - 5pm that's why we came after 2pm. The temple is marketed as a tourist attraction in JB so visits are welcomed with a RM10 entrance fee.<br /><br />Perhaps the day we visited was a special prayer day so the temple wasn't opened as scheduled or it just doesn't adhere to stipulated tourism hours I'm not sure. But if you encounter closed doors within the stipulated visitation hours, try to spot the temple staff and ask.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Reflection of Acceptance</b></span><br />
<br />
Since we were the only 3 visitors to the temple, the staff didn't bothered to on the interior lights and it was rather dull. So we requested for the lights to be switched on and when they were, the magical colours of the place sprang to life. You can see the above photo for when the lights were off and the photo below for when the chandeliers were turned on. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-09_zpse5h4fplv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-09_zpse5h4fplv.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Politely request for the lights inside the temple to be turned on if they are off as the lighting makes a huge difference to bring out the beauty of the mirrored ceiling and columns.<br /><br />Not to be a bitch, but Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple does charge a RM10 entrance fee for tourists so rightfully, it should keep its side of the deal and help make the visit experience fuller. But do ask nicely as there may be religious services going on or there may unknown reasons the temple is keeping the lights off.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-10_zps7kgb9glg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-10_zps7kgb9glg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's like walking into disco ball nation with all the reflective mirrored tiles. The inspiration behind </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple's</span> glistening choice of decorative material were the Thai temples of Bangkok.<br /><br />When Guru Bhagawan Sittar, the temple's chairman and chief priest visited Bangkok, his attention was captured by the sparkling roofs of Thai temples that have reflective glass in a distance. Inspired, the guru applied the mirror glass approach in dressing up </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple as he expanded what used to be a shrine into the full-fledged temple it is today. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-12_zpsxmb5xqqb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-12_zpsxmb5xqqb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">But what captured my attention in the temple were the line-up of holy figures from other religions.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="st">Though a
Hindu temple, you can find tributes to other religions in the form of
statues of representative religious figures, where permissible (Islam teachings forbids the visual depiction of the prophet Muhammad), included within Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple's prayer hall.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Amita-llujah-maste</span></b><br />
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<span class="st">Would I be persecuted for mish-mashing the greetings and proclamations of Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism? To me, I view the choice of faith, if there is a choice, as choosing a belief of the after-life. Whether it is the belief of an endless cycle of <i>samsara</i> (reincarnation) till the soul attains nirvana or a definite eternal resting place for the soul in heaven or hell, faith, deals with what happens after life ends because in this life, our experiences and what humanity goes through are all the same. </span><br />
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<span class="st">For that matter, in my simplistic view, all religions share a common foundation in laying down a code of conduct or morality for humanity to aspire towards self-betterment through love, compassion, kindness, empathy and peace with all that is around us. So a choice to follow a system of belief, or the choice of not having one, shouldn't be a contest for supremacy but an acceptance that the vastness of life contains a myriad formulations to equate good and decipher death. Just like food for you and me to sustain life is not food for all animals, insects, plants or microbes... and vice-versa. So, you know, like the saying goes, let's not make this life a living hell for others.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-11_zps8qxyyf6y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-11_zps8qxyyf6y.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A statue of Buddha, Jesus Christ and a religious holy man lined the pillars encircling the holy shrine flanked by Ganesha, the Hindu elephant god.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-14_zpspqcvn7o0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-14_zpspqcvn7o0.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amitabha... the enlightened figure of Mahayana Buddhism in a surya mudra (ring finger to thumb) pose. The fingering conveys a blessing of vitality and energy.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-15_zpsr6kjccif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-15_zpsr6kjccif.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hallelujah! I am Christian and if I were the old me, I would think that a statue of Jesus Christ amongst the statues of Hindu gods amounts to blasphemy because in the tradition of Abrahamic religions, there is only one true god and not a plethora of gods. But the new me accepts the different faiths, learn from them and expand my the human element in me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-13_zps1l64nt1z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-13_zps1l64nt1z.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mother Teresa... a recognition of the Roman Catholics' belief system in the Hindu Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-16_zpsrke0w3yo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-16_zpsrke0w3yo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Namaste. Here's a statue of Sathya Sai Baba, an oft controversial religious figure whose doctrines usher in a new age of interfaith beliefs and traditions.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-17_zps6ntjfbyy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-17_zps6ntjfbyy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brahma... the four-faced god of creation in the Mahabharata concept of Hinduism. He is a third of the trinity of supreme gods which consists of the said deity, Shiva (the destroyer) and Vishnu (the preserver). In Hinduism, destruction is a part of creation. Evil, is as necessary as good.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-18_zps0f3h4skt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-18_zps0f3h4skt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Statue of Shiva with a cobra around his neck. The cobra represents all the bad things (evil, demons, etc) and this statue is a devotional consolation that good will always triumph over evil.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-20_zps0bblq4up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-20_zps0bblq4up.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A golden statue of Kali, the goddess of time and change, and a feminine manifestation of Shiva is also honoured in Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple. Shiva is the god of destruction, so is Kali, the fearsome goddess that signifies death and the vanquish of evil.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-19_zpsayi7phat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-19_zpsayi7phat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is Ganesha (remover of obstacles), one of the most beloved and prominent deities in Hinduism. Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvati and embodies the spirit of 'rising above the odds', god of success, wealth, knowledge, and all things good in mammoth proportions.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-21_zpsqrx9gwsk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-21_zpsqrx9gwsk.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A head relief of the goddess Kali eyes every visitor that comes into the central ritual shrine of Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-23_zps5srwimlj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-23_zps5srwimlj.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From cradle to grave, this 3D dioramic depiction of a man's life urges all to see life in perspective... that it is transient. Spring heightens into summer, fades into autumn and passes into winter. So don't take things too hard or hold on to anything for everything shall pass with the different stages of life and ending ultimately in death.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-24_zpsaatmlv6t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-24_zpsaatmlv6t.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not familiar with Hindu rituals, perhaps you can enlighten me, but we came across a prayer session where only women attended.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-22_zpsou4vexdk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/darren_ng/Travel/Johor/JB-Glass-Temple-22_zpsou4vexdk.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was enlightening to visit Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple for its open acceptance of different religions. The temple challenged the confines of my mind about faith and I'm glad I left a bigger person.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Or so I would like to think :)</span></td></tr>
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Darren Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15824405754246135681noreply@blogger.com0