Heigh ho October is here!
How are you all doing? I am in a rut regarding blog posts…but on the other hand I’ve been quite busy with everyday life. Septermber was a blur of fun with high school friends (weddings are reunions these days) and one nomikai after another as another fiscal half-year comes to a close and company shuffles are announced.
But I am ready and excited for October because I am off to Australia at the end of the month! Yay! I haven’t been there since 2003, when I went to Brisbane for a few weeks. This time I am headed to Melbourne to attend my darling friend’s wedding. So so excited. I also get to stop by Singapore on my way back, which is also another country I’ve never been to!
Have you ever been to Melbourne or Singapore? I’d love any suggestions!
It is quite chilly in Tokyo already and I am going to have to dig out my sweaters and knits. But I do think that food always tastes better once we hit fall, something about the cold weather and warm comfort food. Oh, and don’t forget all the nashi (Japanese pear), kyoho (Japanese grapes), and kaki (Japanese persimmon)…my favorite fall fruits! Yum!
I hope you’re all enjoying all this fall deliciousness, too! xx
——————————————————-Link Love——————————————————-
– Starting off this month once again at this tennis tournament.
– This butternut queso looks amazing.
– Surprising facts from these maps.
– #AskLena about feminism.
– David Parkinson’s love letter to Japan. (via)
– Sometimes I pretend I have a fire place with this on my computer screen.
Kaori Square Feet 
Oh, send a little fall out this way. Your trip sounds lovely.
LikeLike
I haven't been to Melbourne but I really want to go. I'd go for the motorcycle race. This year it is on the 19th. I'll make it someday.
I've been to Singapore. Twice now. both for the Singapore GP (F1). You can see a theme. 😉 I'm sure you saw the posts on my blog last year. Head here for all of my info:
http://blog.hinomaple.com/category/travel/east-asia/
LikeLike
The typhoon brought quite a few chilly strong winds, so I'll try to guide a bit of it your way! x
LikeLike
Melbourne has races, too? Cool. Next time I go, I want to go see the Australian Open tennis tournament and maybe stop by Sydney, too. But I should probably just enjoy this trip there before I start planning the next one!
Yes, I do see the pattern. Haha. I was really into F1 in college and Alonso was my favorite. But they kept on airing it in Japan past midnight on Sunday night, which just messes with my whole week at work and…somewhere along the way I let it all go. Did you watch this year's Japan GP?
I forgot you were in Singapore last year! I'll have to go look through your posts. I remember you saying to keep a bottle of water with you. Will have to remember that. Thanks for the link! 😀
LikeLike
Yup. I don't know when I'll go to Melbourne, but it is on the table and I WILL go someday.
The problem for Japan is that you have to pay for the live coverage. Fuji Next has it live. Sometimes I like watching the regular FujiTV broadcast because they have funny nicknames for the drivers.
Yeah, I watched the JapanGP. It was a good race until the end. Terrible news from an accident that stopped the race. I'm not looking forward to the motorcycle race. It's this weekend at Motegi. Of course I'll be there. 😀
Have fun reading the Singapore posts. If you have specific questions, just ask. Been learning more and more about Singapore since my last trip. Wondering when my next one will be…
LikeLike
Oh the one's they play on Sunday nights aren't live coverage? I didn't know that!
Oh no, was there an accident? That's always bad news, I hope it wasn't a pile-up. They go so fast, it's a miracle when a race finishes without a crash, in my opinion.
I think I'm going to stop by the Botanic garden in Singapore. Also want to see the little corners of Chinatown, Little India, and the Arab areas, too! Have you ever gone to the Singapore night safari?
LikeLike
I don't know how long ago, but most of the races aren't live. The European rounds are usually live at 8 or 9pm. Then we have the problem that now on Fuji, they don't even air the entire race. They tend to cut out some of the boring parts.
The crash was not really a pile up. Personally, I think it isn't a miracle when a race finishes without a crash. Just good driving and good skill on the drivers. 🙂
Botanical gardens? The one near Orchard or the new one at Gardens by the Bay? The one near Orchard was really nice with a lot of character. Just way too hot to really enjoy it.
Night safari? Never been. I never had the time as I was always at the F1 race at night. 😉
One tip that I think I didn't mention on my blog, when you go into the city, take a taxi from the airport. Also take one going to the airport. They aren't expensive. When I took the train, trying to get a transportation card was a pain. The lines were terribly long. I think it is better to enjoy the space in a taxi and you'll get to your hotel faster!
LikeLike
Hmmm I didn't know there were two gardens, I guess it will depend on the temperature that day then.
Thanks for the advice on transportation to and from the hotel. The taxi's don't seem too expensive and the airport is really close to the city so I think we'll take a taxi, especially with our luggage. Was it easy to get from one place to another within the city on foot? Or did you use the train? I can't seem to figure out how large Singapore is in my head.
LikeLike
Yup. 2 gardens.
Singapore Botanical Gardens:
http://blog.hinomaple.com/2014/02/14/singapore-botanical-gardens
Gardens by the Bay:
http://blog.hinomaple.com/2014/02/21/gardens-by-the-bay
Singapore is very similar to Tokyo. You can walk to many of the places easily (imagine Tokyo/Ginza/Tsukiji/Marunouchi/Yaesu/Nihonbashi…). It may not seem real easy or real close but it isn't far. The heat and humidity can make it feel that way though.
First time in Singapore, I used the train a bit. Second time, not so much. I knew where I wanted to go and just did a straight line tour to each place. You don't have to buy the IC card but using the single journey tickets is annoying. They give you an IC card too that gives discounts over time. I prefer that now as I don't really use the train so often.
LikeLike
I'm only going to be there for 3 days so I'm not sure what I want to do regarding transportation. I like riding on public transportation to get a fee of what it's like in that country…on the other hand, if I can walk there, I probably will.
I'm going to keep your tips in mind! Thank you!!!
LikeLike
For me, 3 days is too short. Single journey cards will do if you need to take a train. You can still keep them too.
You are leaving for Singapore and Oz soon, no? Have fun!
LikeLike
Well, it's just a pit stop on my way back from Melbourne so I'm lucky to have squeezed even three days in Singapore! But it's so close, I have a feeling I'll be going there again! I'll try the single journey cards if I need to take the train then. Thank you!
I leave tomorrow afternoon…whoop!!! I'll catch up with your blog when I get back!
LikeLike