Things to try

While I'm waiting for my bus to the aiport, I thought I would do a quick post on the foods and drinks that I tried overseas.

In Japan I had a Fanta Grape Zero which was a nice change the usually fizzy drinks. In Britain I had my fair share of Diet Cherry Coke. Yum, yum.

Italy, where do I start? We tried fresh mozzarella cheese in Italy with fresh pasta and pesto. Devine. We also drank red vino, which is amazing. Even the cheapest of brands were drinkable unlike the stuff we get in NZ. NZ red wine tastes kinda woody. Italian red wine was smooth.

In Austria and Germany try the gigantic pretzels. They come in several flavours, cheese, Nutella, and pizza just to name a few.

In Belgium we tried raspberry beer and cheery beer. The former tasted like lolly water and the latter was more like beer with a hint of cherry. Worth trying.

I'm running out of time so I will leave the post here.

A couple of accommodation reviews

Anne Black YWCA, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 4-7 August 2010

This place was cheap, cheap, cheap. It cost us $60NZ per night for twin room with air conditioning, hand basin, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brush, towels and a jug. The showers had good pressure and the bathroom was lockable. However there was no kitchen or laundry and reception was open very early and very late.

Kimi Ryokan, Ikebukuro “Sunshine City”, Tokyo, Japan, 7-14 August 2010

It was cheap for what is one of the best “ryokans” in Tokyo, or so I’ve read online. It only cost us around $105NZ per night for a medium sized room, for two people, for four very comfortable futon mats. It was clean and tidy. It had a kitchen with free green tea and a beer vending machine, a TV room, free wifi and free use of robes and towels. The shower rooms were lockable and there was room to get changed in private. There were also space outside to hang out any washing but there was no laundry.

The some of the staff spoke English and were friendly and helpful. It is near a train station and near the limousine bus stop, which takes people from Narita airport to Tokyo city.

My Favourite Cities

My favourite cities to visit, in no particular order:

1. Paris, France. The city of light, well at least it is the city of light in Europe. I like Paris because it is so pretty. The Eiffel Tower illuminates with a light show at 11 pm each night, the Moulin Rouge glows with neon lights and then there’s the red light district. It’s very shiny. The red light district is near the district of Montmartre. It’s filled with expensive and enticing sex shops. Ah Montmartre. The home of Amelie Poulain and the Two Windmills café, the home of cool.

2. London, England. London is great. Full old cute neighbourhoods and park squirrels and subway trains. I love to view the ancient architure scattered about this city. London is fashionable. I love to people watch in London. I love to shop for stylish pieces and to be inspired by street fashionistas. I love the quirkiness of the alternative Camden Town. Camden Town’s main street is line with markets and vegetarian eateries and music venues. This is also we close friend resides. It makes me love it even more.

3. Florence, Italy. Florence, what a beautiful name! It suits this city. Florence is one my favourite cities in Italy. I liked the quaint cobbled streets, the outdoor statue museum, the Michelangelo Piazza (which has stunning views of the city) and the gelati.

4. Bath, England. Bath is about a two hour train journey from London and a 90 minute bus ride to the Stonehenge. Bath is an old Roman spa resort established in 43 AD and has been inscribed as a world heritage site since 1987. It’s incredibly quaint small city situated in the county of Somerset. It was once home for Jane Austen and is the home to the beautiful Bath Abbey, built in the 16^th century.

5. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The tourist districts of Amsterdam smell strongly of cannabis smoke and glow with red light. The word sex is everywhere. You can catch a glimpse of the working girls in windows day or night, it’s a 24 hour a day business.

6. Tokyo, Japan. I love you Tokyo. Tokyo, so hip, so cool. So stylish, so crazy. I love the neon lit sky scrapers, the twinkling theme music of the main streets. The subway trains are so fast and clean. The streets are clean and smell so sweet. The girls are the trendiest, cute and kitschy I’ve ever seen and I adore it.

7. Berlin, Germany. Alternative Berlin. Berlin you may not be as beautiful as Florence or Bath, but you are so so interesting and mature. There are three things that will always be etched to my mind when I think of Berlin. One is the street art lining the walls of Berlin. Two is the history, the Berlin Wall, the memorial to Jews and vast information on Nazi Germany. Third is the bier bike.