Itchyfeet


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i'm just the girl-next-door with an itch to explore the world bit by bit


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  • Itchyfeet
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  • Itchyfeet
    Reviewed
    Meiji Jingu, Japan

    "The shrine complex"

    by Itchyfeet on BagsUp
    Itchyfeet visited as a business traveller and rated it   Great

    I never thought I could find such a peaceful and lush area in the heart of Tokyo! yet, there it was!
    The Meiji shrine, dating back to 1920 is in the middle of a 175 acre

    ... more
    I never thought I could find such a peaceful and lush area in the heart of Tokyo! yet, there it was!
    The Meiji shrine, dating back to 1920 is in the middle of a 175 acre forest. As you walk into the woods, you will come across several Toris (huge Cypress tree trunk archways). Step inside the entrance tori, and instantly, you are transported to peace and quiet - a huge contrast from the din of Harajuku and Shibuya. Built in traditional Japanese style, the shrine has some awesome isis gardens as well.

    It is not uncommon to sight several Japanese brides and grooms saying "i do" at Meiji. To my delight, I saw beautiful Japanese brides and dapper grooms in traditional clothes as well as several guests clad in kimonos (which could be a rare sight considering the majority of Tokyo is kitted out in Prada and Burberry).

    The shrine also has a prayer area where visitors can write their prayers on paper or wooden tablets. Spend some time reading the wooden tablets, some of which can be really heart-rending and others which can just be plain fun :) Peace out!

    Appears in guide Tokyo Drift

    4 mths ago · 0 Like · Comment
    6 degrees

  • Itchyfeet
    Reviewed
    Harajuku, Japan

    "cosplay fashion"

    by Itchyfeet on BagsUp
    Itchyfeet visited as a business traveller

    Step out of the Harajuku station on a Sunday afternoon and you will stare! ;)

    The area, which is at the corner of the Harajuku station, Meiji shrine and Yoyogi Park is c

    ... more
    Step out of the Harajuku station on a Sunday afternoon and you will stare! ;)

    The area, which is at the corner of the Harajuku station, Meiji shrine and Yoyogi Park is choc-a-bloc with tourists and cosplayers. (Cosplay is short for costume play). A very famous Japanese subculture, Cosplayers from all over Tokyo assemble in this area dressed to resemble goth queens, Japanese manga and anime characters and a whole lot more. These like-minded cosplayers will indulge tourists and pose for photographs as well. So, if you want your picture with the Japanese Twins in their leopard print outfits and fake blond curls, don't hesitate to ask!

    Harajuku is also famous for its shopping. With quite a few international brands as well as Japanese, it is the shopping district for all pockets unlike Ginza.

    Appears in guide Tokyo Drift

    4 mths ago · 1 Like · Comment
    6 degrees

  • Itchyfeet
    Reviewed
    tsukiji market, Japan

    "the inner market (jonai shijo)"

    by Itchyfeet on BagsUp
    Itchyfeet visited as a business traveller

    something fishy? nah..a whole lot fishy, actually!

    One cannot be lazy if you have Tsukiji, the world's largest seafood market on your to-do list. The action here starts

    ... more
    something fishy? nah..a whole lot fishy, actually!

    One cannot be lazy if you have Tsukiji, the world's largest seafood market on your to-do list. The action here starts as early as 5:00AM and ends with the rising Sun. Famous for the tuna auction at the crack of dawn, Tsukiji is worth a visit even if it means you have to sacrifice quite a bit of your beauty sleep.

    The market is abuzz with activity with fisherman in gum boots and stained aprons. Surprisingly, for a fish market, the area is very clean. Be sure to stay out of anybody's way and make yourself as invisible as possible. The day's catch is transported on small forklifts which navigate with amazing speed and agility in the narrow lanes of the market. Nobody slows down! And, if you're a nosey tourist with a camera, stick to the fringes of the narrow alley-ways.

    I've managed to see lots of marine life in my 3 hours there - unagi (eel), sea urchins, squid, clams, octopus and of course, huge loads of tuna. It is a feast for the eyes to watch the fishermen slice open the tuna. The movement between the hands, huge sword-like knives and the body are so well synchronized, it reminds you of an ancient warrior dance in this exotic land :)

    *If you're not a meat-eater, the experience might be a bit graphic*

    A trip to Tsukiji is incomplete without a breakfast at the lil' sushi joints outside. Be a glutton and feast on miso soup, sushi and green tea. burrp!

    Appears in guide Tokyo Drift

    4 mths ago · 1 Like · Comment
    6 degrees

  • Itchyfeet
    Reviewed
    Izakaya, Japan

    "Sit on the floor and drink sake"

    Itchyfeet visited as a business traveller

    Your trip to Tokyo is incomplete if you haven't visited an Izakaya. These drinking places are akin to pubs but of course without the bar stools and classic rock music in

    ... more
    Your trip to Tokyo is incomplete if you haven't visited an Izakaya. These drinking places are akin to pubs but of course without the bar stools and classic rock music in the background!

    As soon as I entered the Izakaya, I was given a plastic bag to dump my shoes. I carried this bag to our "table" which is essentially sitting on the floor on tatami mats and low tables placed over a hollow area which allows you to dangle your legs. This little hollow space below the table is very handy if you're in a skirt :)

    Settle down comfortably so you're all ready for the F&B fest. Typically, sake and beer are the favorites brews in Izakaya's (after all! Isakaya does mean a place to sit and drink sake). Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), sashimi (raw fish slices) ofcourse go well with the brew. It is common practice to share the food on the table.. so dig in your chopsticks and fill up those hot sake glasses! kampai..hic!

    Appears in guide Tokyo Drift

    4 mths ago · 2 Like · Comment (1)
    • You and 2 people like this
    • Max J Totally agree with the F&B fest. Great to just sit and soak up the atmosphere and a few Sake's

      1 mth ago · Flag

    6 degrees

  • Itchyfeet
    Reviewed
    Cumbernauld, United Kingdom

    "Just keep walking in the village"

    by Itchyfeet on BagsUp
    Itchyfeet visited as a business traveller

    I love the lush green! and Cumbernauld has a lot of that on offer. Walk into the local village cemetery and you'll find epitaphs dating back to times you've only read of.

    ... more
    I love the lush green! and Cumbernauld has a lot of that on offer. Walk into the local village cemetery and you'll find epitaphs dating back to times you've only read of. Home to a few manufacturing units, this quiet lil' village is just what you need to unwind after a hard day's work

    Appears in guide Of Whiskey, Celtic symbols and cold rain

    4 mths ago · 0 Like · Comment
    6 degrees

  • Itchyfeet
    Reviewed
    Stirling, United Kingdom

    "The cemetery outside the Holy Rude church"

    by Itchyfeet on BagsUp
    Itchyfeet visited as a solo traveller

    I came back from Stirling feeling melancholic. A very pretty medieval town once home to Queen Mary, of Scots, this place stole my heart away. Also home to William Wallace

    ... more
    I came back from Stirling feeling melancholic. A very pretty medieval town once home to Queen Mary, of Scots, this place stole my heart away. Also home to William Wallace (for us folks, it is Mel Gibson from Braveheart :)), the cobbled streets hold many a dark secret. If you love history and architecture, Stirling is the place for you. It is probably a miniature version of Edinburgh.

    The best way to enjoy this place is to walk though the changing landscape and the cold might squeeze the juice out of you real quick, especially if you decide to walk between the Stirling castle and the Wallace monument. You will find a lot of reference to the several Scottish clans, notably the Argylls and Bruce as well as the thistle.Be sure to stack up on Scottish souvenirs from here.

    Appears in guide Of Whiskey, Celtic symbols and cold rain

    4 mths ago · 0 Like · Comment
    6 degrees

  • Itchyfeet
    Reviewed
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    "A walk down the Royal Mile and the Celtic symbols"

    by Itchyfeet on BagsUp
    Itchyfeet visited as a solo traveller

    "This is city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas.
    A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again" - Alexander McCall Smith
    I carrie

    ... more
    "This is city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas.
    A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again" - Alexander McCall Smith
    I carried this quote back with me and remember it verbatim because that's exactly how I feel every time I think about it.
    For history and architecture buffs, this is a must-see city and honestly a day here would do no justice. Take your time to let the history and the Celtic symbols wash over you.

    Appears in guide Of Whiskey, Celtic symbols and cold rain

    4 mths ago · 0 Like · Comment
    6 degrees

  • Itchyfeet
    Reviewed
    Kochi, India

    "ancient dance/martial art forms"

    by Itchyfeet on BagsUp
    Itchyfeet visited as a solo traveller

    Fort Kochi, formerly a Portugese colony which was handed over to the Dutch and later to the British over centuries is a quiet little town with friendly locals and dependi

    ... more
    Fort Kochi, formerly a Portugese colony which was handed over to the Dutch and later to the British over centuries is a quiet little town with friendly locals and depending upon your agenda, offers the perfect mix of activity packed days and relaxation. You can spend hours walking on the streets just absorbing the pot pourri of cultural influences, spend time reading up on the history of this little fishing town, take a culinary class or try your hand at kalaripayattu..Also, unlike other places which run high on tourism, hawkers and touts don’t pester you to check into home-stays or buy that next pair of alibaba pants. What a relief!

    Be sure to see how the Chinese fishing nets work and yes! they do make a lovely picture postcard if you get to them by sunrise/sunset. The cantilever mechanism of these 10 mt high nets dates back to the 14th-century, and sometimes, a few friendly fishermen let you help them around which can be a lot of fun. The next best thing on that street is that the street is lined with the day’s catch of fish/clams/shrimp (throw in some baby sharks to the line-up!) which are cooked right there on the street.. out of the sea and straight into your gut!
    4 mths ago · 0 Like · Comment
    6 degrees
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