Golfing in Singapore

I am not a big time golfer, I'll admit it. Though I can see the joy in hanging out with a bunch of friends whacking around a few tiny defenseless balls. Throw in a few drinks, a beautiful backdrop, and a cool breeze and you'll have yourself a wonderful time. I've been golfing a few times and thought the courses were ok, but none of them compared to the course at the Marina Bay Golf Course, Singapore.

Opened in November 2006, the Marina Bay Golf Course is Singapore’s first and only 18-hole golf course which is open to the public. Located strategically in the heart of town, the course offers golfers great accessibility and a picturesque view of the city skyline, be it day or night. I was in Singapore for a business conference on Sentosa. My flight didn't leave until midnight of my last day so we had some time to kill. A couple of coworkers and myself headed to the course for a round of golf and it was the best thing of the trip.



I must admit, golfing isn't a cheap recreational sport and golfing at the Marina Bay is on the expensive end of golf courses. After renting equipment and paying for 18 holes I was out about $300. Yep, that's expensive for a day of anything. I even had to fork out $100 for two box of balls. The balls weren't expensive by golf ball standards, but why pay that much for something that's gonna end up at the bottom of a fake lake in 1 hour.

The two guys I was with were both good golfers. When I wasn't hacking holes in the lawn I was spending my time taking tips from them and trying to imitate their swing. The hour spent on the course getting instruction from them really improved my game, but that's not saying much. I was horrible going in and a little less horrible coming out.

Despite the cost, which is a lot to put aside, golfing at the Marina Bay golf course is a great experience. If you have the time and are willing to pay then head over to the course and play a few rounds.

READ MORE >

Yokohama Landmark Tower

I've been to the top of many tall buildings so it's kinda old hat for me now. However, every now and then I get to the top of a building that's so tall that it reminds me of the awe and wonder I had the very first time I ascended a skyscraper. The Landmark Tower in Yokohama is the tallest building and third largest structure in Japan and the mother of all Japanese mega buildings standing 296.3 m (972 ft) high. It is located in the Minato Mirai 21 district of Yokohama city, right next to Yokohama Museum of Art. Work on the building was finished in 1993. It has the highest observation deck in Japan. Once at the top you cannot help but gaze and the tinny specs moving about below and the beautiful Japanese landscape disappearing in the distance.

The Landmark Tower is so tall that it dwarfs the other skyscrapers next to it and from the top of the Landmark Tower you can see the helipads of the surrounding skyscrapers. Inside the building is a bit stale and the decor is dated. However, I was able to get reservations for lunch at the Chinese restaurant on the 70th floor of the building. The food was wonderful, though pricey, and the view is incredible.

Yokohama city makes for a great day trip out of Tokyo and has a number of great attractions that Tokyo doesn't offer. If you're ever in Yokohama then consider a detour to the Landmark Tower, if for no other reason that to say you've been to the top of the tallest building in Japan.

READ MORE >

Kichijoji and Studio Ghibli Museum

When visiting Tokyo, if you ever get tired of the big city there are no shortage of lovely suburban neighborhoods to visit. These neighborhoods are mostly within a short one hour train ride from Tokyo city center and make for great day trips that round out the Tokyo experience. Kichijoji is a lovely little suburb west of Tokyo, less than 20 minutes on the express train from Shibuya station. Take the Inokashira Line from Shibuya station and get off at Kichijoji station in Kichijoji. 

The highlight is Inokashira Park, a large park with long walking paths surrounding a lake. The park is filled with both cherry trees and maples, making Inokashira Park an excellent choice for both flower viewing in the spring, and the autumn colors in the fall. Kichijōji once enjoyed a reputation as an artists' colony, and today it is filled with stores from little boutiques to the big department stores. 

The park was incredibly enjoyable and the highlight for me was the abundance of artisans and craftsmen in the park selling their creations. The crafts were incredibly well done and I found myself purchasing something at almost every other stall. There were also many performers in the part, from a group reenacting scenes from popular music videos, to a magician doing some very impressive card tricks with a digital pack of cards. 

In the West Garden of Inokashira Park, past the lawn tennis courts, is the Studio Ghibli museum, where you can admire the work of Hayao Miyazaki, the Japanese anime master behind Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro and other films. There's a big furry cat bus to play in, a giant robot on the roof, artist sketches and cels and a trippy zoetrope. The museum is geared toward kids, but Miyazaki fans of any age will enjoy it. The theater shows a short film that you can't see anywhere else.

Kichijoji was some of the most fun I've had outside of Tokyo since visiting Kamakura last year. If you have 4-6 hours and wanna do somethind outside of Tokyo I highly recommend a short trip to Kichijoji.

READ MORE >

One Love Jamaica Festival

I woke up this morning and smiled to the rising sun. Three little birds were pitched by my doorstep singing a sweet song, the melody was pure and true. Saying, go to the One Love Jamaica Festival in Yoyogi park today. So I did.

It was an absolutely lovely day in Tokyo. I find myself saying this a lot in my blog posts but the days here are truly beautiful. The sky is typically blue and clear with some clouds and a temperature of about 77 degrees. Today was no exception and so it was a perfect day to hit Yoyogi park.

Yoyogi Park is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, Japan located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya. What is now Yoyogi Park was the site of the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan, on December 19, 1910, by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa, after which it became an army parade ground. During the post World War II occupation, it was the site of the Washington Heights residence for U.S. officers. It was later the site for the main Olympic athletes village of the 1964 Summer Olympics and the swimming, diving, and basketball venues. The distinctive Yoyogi National Gymnasium which hosted swimming, diving, and basketball was designed by Kenzo Tange for the Olympics, and is still in use, but most of the area north of the gymnasium complex and south of Meiji Shrine was turned into a city park in 1967.

Yoyogi is about a 25 minute walk from my apartment or a short 7 minute taxi ride. Since I didn't want to tire myself out before I got to the park I decided to take a cab and save my walking for the park. Today was the annual One Love Jamaica Festival which takes place in a huge parking lot at the side of the park. I've heard a lot about the festival and it's popular among Caribbean people living in Tokyo. I was certainly looking forward to experiencing it for myself. Luckily I had my HD recorder with me so I was able to capture some great video along with images. And since video is better than words I'll leave you with the video and a few thoughts.

This was the highlight of the festival for me and I couldn't stop laughing. The Japanese were truly entertained, though I think maybe for the same reasons as I was.




This stall had it all, and the name says it all too. :-)







Walking around the festival to give you a sense of the layout. This was some kinda ethnic dancing, though completely unrecognizable to me.






In summary the festival wasn't as big as I had imagine though it was certainly not small. I was also expecting more authenticity in the food, music, and arts but looking back it seems like too much to ask for in Tokyo. I enjoyed it, but if I had to grade the festival I'll give it a B. It's worth going to, but it's not something I'll go to every year. Here are a few pictures to end this post.

READ MORE >

When Rapture Comes

After extensive investigation I have managed to uncover the source of the rapture prophecy. In 2009 Terminator 'Salvation' was released on May 21st - starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. The video trailer for that movie clearly states that on May 21st "the end begins". This, I believe, is the source of the confusion, problem solved.

Regardless, if rapture does come, can one of you heathens please walk my dog and water my plants while I am gone?

Thanks from heaven. :-)

READ MORE >

Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden

By now you should know that I am completely in love with Tokyo and Japan in general. One of the things that's most enjoyable is that there are seemingly endless numbers of parks, gardens, and temples that act as little oasis in one of the most metropolitan areas in the world. These parks provide much needed respite to the city dwellers and are always packed with locals enjoying a lazy day or retirees taking their daily walk.

Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden is one of the least visited gardens in Tokyo (by tourists) but equally as enjoyable as any of the major gardens or parks. Construction on the garden was started in 1629 by Tokugawa Yorifusa, the daimyo (feudal lord) of Mito han, and was completed by his successor, Tokugawa Mitsukuni. Mitsukuni named the garden "Kōraku-en" (Kōraku means "enjoying afterwards") after a Chinese proverb which states that "a governor should worry before people and enjoy after people". The garden still shows a strong Chinese influence in its design and is currently under improvement.

With 70,000-sq-metre of formal Japanese garden to explore, if you have the slightest interest in gardens you should make a beeline to Koishikawa. The garden is particularly well known for plum trees in February, irises in June and autumn colours. Of special note is the Engetsu-kyō (Full-Moon Bridge), which dates from the early Edo period. Kōrakuen means ‘the garden of later enjoyment’, which comes from a Chinese proverb about maintaining power first and enjoying it later – we assume this sounds better in Chinese.

READ MORE >

Lanterns Over Thailand

Paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes, as well as various methods of construction. In their simplest form, they are simply a paper bag with a candle placed inside, although more complicated lanterns consist of a collapsible bamboo or metal frame of hoops covered with tough paper.




During dinner one night the hotel staff asked us if we'd like to release a lantern into the sky. I've never done this but that it was a pretty cool idea. After dinner the staff brought us a large paper lantern which they lit and gave to us. All we really had to do was let it fly. It was certainly memorable watching the lanterns float away in the distance. Enjoy the video.

READ MORE >

Hong Island, Krabi Thailand

During my recent trip to Thailand my daily activity involved venturing out on a local Longtail boat to the islands just off the coastline. Most of these islands were a short 20 minute boat ride from my hotel and offered some of the most breathtaking snorkeling and sunbathing that I've ever experienced. I visited Four Island (Poda Island, Tub Island, Chicken Head Island, Pranang Cave), Hong Island, and Phi Phi Island - to name a few. Hong island was the first one I visited and it made a very lasting impression.

Hong Island (Koh Hong) stands out as one of the most beautiful islands off the Andaman coast. As you approach from the sea you notice towering limestone formations that inspire images of a deserted island from a dream. Koh Hong’s name comes from the Thai word “Hong” which translates loosely into “room”. That's because in the middle of this beautiful island there lies a hidden lagoon with water so clear that you can see the bottom of the lagoon at all times. The coral reefs here are amazing and you will also find siphons and an abundance of brightly colored tropical fish swimming happily around your feet.






To enter the lagoon you have to pass through a small corridor between two cliffs that act as a doorway or secret passage. The cliffs surround the lagoon completely except for this relatively narrow opening and protects it from the waves of the sea. As a result the lagoon water is almost completely still and crystal clear. Mangroves line the edges of the lagoon near the cliff walls while trees and bush hang down on and around the walls themselves. The lagoon itself was worth the 20 minute boat ride  but the beach that followed absolutely made Hong Island a must visit in my mind.

Pelay beach boasts powder white sand and wonderful coral and fish. I spent much of the time on this beach feeding and swimming with the fishes, who were just as curious about me as I was about them. The beach is almost enclosed by cliffs and rocks and has very calm and clear waters which is perfect for snorkeling. Many of the tourists on the beach spent their time sunbathing or feeding the hundreds of tropical fish that swam close to shore. The fishes were certainly not shy and became pretty aggressive once you started feeding them.

After a few hours on the beach we decided to head back to the resort to spend the rest of the afternoon lounging near the pool. The sun had taken its toll and it was time to relax in the shade.

As always, I'll leave you with a few more pictures from my trip to Hong island. Enjoy.

READ MORE >

Falling In Love With Krabi, Thailand

Thailand can be many things to many people. Bangkok, for example, is a world of excitement and access to all things elicit for those looking for some red light action and nightlife. Head out of Bangkok and south towards the beautiful coastline and Thailand becomes a tropical paradise unparalleled in beauty to any other place on earth. After spending some time in Thailand I can say unequivocally that it is the most beautiful place that I've ever traveled to, and I've done my share of traveling.

Most people who travel to Thailand in search of a tropical getaway head straight to one of the more popular tourist destinations like Phuket island or Phi Phi island. These destinations, while as beautiful as any other on the Thailand coast, are often packed with tourist year round and may not afford you any seclusion, if that's what you're looking for. However, if you're hoping to avoid the massive crowds and still lounge in paradise one often overlooked destination on the Thailand coast is Krabi.

Krabi is a town on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River where it empties in Phangnga Bay. As of 2005 the town had a population of 24,986 people. The town is the capital of Krabi Province and Krabi district. You'll find many beautiful, secluded resorts in the Krabi province including the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Sofitel Krabi, and the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort to name a few. Recently I had the pleasure of traveling to Thailand and staying at the Sheraton Krabi for 10 days and absolutely fell head over heels in love with it.

The Sheraton far exceeded my expectations. The property is clean, beautifully landscaped and meticulously well kept. It is one of the top rated hotels on Tripadvisor for the Krabi region, which I think sums it all up. From the hotel location in Krabi I ventured daily by boat to the surrounding islands like Hong island, Four island, and Phi Phi islands. The snorkeling in Thailand is the best I've seen, having snorkeled in most of the Caribbean islands, Mexico, and South East Asia Thailand stands out. The islands off the coast of Krabi are the epitome of tropical paradise. There were also a few nameless (to me anyway) islands that we stopped and explored on the way that would give many of the Caribbean islands a run for their money.





In the next few posts I'll get into more detail about the beautiful islands off the coast of Thailand and blog about some other adventures we had inland. For now though, let me leave you with a few shots of Krabi and the Sheraton.

READ MORE >

Hanami in Tokyo

Hanami is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, "flower" in this case almost always means cherry blossoms or ume blossoms. From the end of March to early May, Sakura bloom all over Japan, and around the first of February on the island of Okinawa. This is a huge event for the Japanese and there are even blossom forecasts that describe the upcoming cherry blossom front so the public knows the optimal time for viewing.

This year I was fortunate enough to be in Japan for some parts of the Hanami season and got to take part in the viewing. It's difficult to miss the cherry blossom season once you're in town as cherry blossom trees are all over the city, on the sidewalks, and in every park. At the height of the bloom parts of the city are covered in white, pink, and shades of red from the blooms of the various trees. Looking out my window I couldn't help to be impressed by how many trees there are in the landscape and how much care is put into maintaining the beauty of the landscape.

Many Japanese camp out under the best Sakura trees to ensure that they keep their spot for them and their friends. Some arrive as early as daybreak, spread a tarp under the tree of their choice, then wait for the friends to arrive with drinks, food, and music. The scene in some parks is absolutely chaotic, not unlike a huge outdoor concert. There is tons of drinking and consequently drunk people, but it's all done in good clean fun.

There are numerous places in Japan where people gather for Hanami parties and it's certainly not centralized. I managed to visit 3 different parks and each had a different, unique feel. As always I will leave you with a few pics to get a better feel for Hanami in Tokyo.

READ MORE >