TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

i like to travel and go for holidays if i have the extra money!

  • Austria,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS,  Vienna

    On the trail of Gustav Klimt

    I am not sure when was the first time I see Klimt’s works but one thing I know for sure, I quickly fell in love with his works. Seeing Klimt’s paintings from reference books and on the Internet at first seemed great, but over time, I had a dream to see them up close—to observe his brush strokes, to really ‘travel into’ his paintings. I made the dream a reality last Autumn (October 2019). It was the most inspiring art adventure that I braved alone. Yes, alone in Vienna. I thought I needed to appreciate his works at my own pace. It was worth it, I found it so inspiring. At times when observing his original masterpieces in the museums, I got all teary—I came so far; from only admiring from across the ocean to being able to stand in front of his paintings.

    I visited five museums in total over the course of five days; well, it is not a complete trail, but that will do.

    Kunsthistorisches Museum

    The first museum I visited was Kunsthistorisches.

    At Kunsthistorisches museum, Klimt paintings are in the form of fresco displayed twelve metres above the ground where they form an integral part of the sumptuous décor of the Main Staircase. There are 40 spandrel paintings and other decorative works adorn the narrow sections of wall between the arches and columns. Eleven of these were completed by Gustav Klimt, and the remainder by his brother Ernst and their friend, Franz Matsch. The paintings were commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph.


    Albertina Museum

    Nymphs (1899)

    With its Graphic Arts Collection—which, at one million works spanning the period between the Renaissance and the present, Albertina is one of the world’s largest and the world’s leading museum for the art of drawing and printing.

    In Albertina, there is only one painting by Klimt, entitled Nymphs (1899). Nonetheless, I enjoyed visiting here because there is a permanent exhibition of works (drawings and paintings) by all of modern and contemporary art history’s great artists including Marc Chagall, Picasso, Edgar Degas, Paul Cezanne, and Albrecht Durer. Albertina is truly the home to all of the pioneering artistic ideas of the modern era and the present.

    Leopold Museum

    The Leopold Museum has a remarkable number of Klimt’s works and a large room dedicated to his genius, filled with his landscapes, portraits and other paintings. Among the paintings are Litzbergkeller on Lake Attersee (1916), On Lake Attersee (1900), Death and Life (1910/11, reworked 1915), The Blind Man (1896).

    Left: Litzbergkeller on Lake Attersee (1916), right: On Lake Attersee (1900).
    Death and Life (1910/11, reworked 1915).

    Klimt’s 1910 Death and Life is perhaps the outstanding work among many. Death and Life painting is based loosely on the dance of death depicted in medieval and renaissance times as death coming to visit people in all ranks and positions in society. Usually, death holds an hourglass or a scythe implying that everything has time to pass and be reaped off the earth. Unusually, Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life depicts death holding a club which looks much more dangerous, animalistic and menacing.

    The skull of death is looking towards life eagerly, inching its neck out and head forward like a predator inspecting its prey. Life is depicted in an arrested cornucopia architecture of human bodies, like a column of flesh showing old and young, male and female alike. There is a sense of generation after generation of human beings who have been or will be taken by death.

    Secession Museum

    From Leopold, I walked to the Secession museum which is about fifteen minutes, and there it was his world-famous 1901 Beethoven Frieze. Klimt painted the Beethoven Frieze for the 14th Vienna Secessionist exhibition in celebration of the composer. Meant for the exhibition only, the frieze was painted directly on the walls with light materials. After the exhibition, the painting was preserved and now is on permanent display in the Vienna Secession Building in a specially built, climate-controlled basement room.

    The frieze is large, standing at 7 feet high with a width of 112 feet. The entire work weighs four tons.

    Partly the Beethoven Frieze (1901) on one side of the wall.

    Upper Belvedere Museum

    Under Belvedere, there are three museums, I could not go to all so I chose the one that has more Klimt paintings on exhibition—the Upper Belvedere. The Upper Belvedere gave me the opportunity to see the biggest and most important collection of Klimt’s works worldwide, among them the famous picture “The Kiss”. It was so surreal! So grand and so beautiful!

    I was there! This area was especially crowded and no chance to take a selfie without people in the background.
    The Kiss (Lovers), 1907–1908.

    With a total of 24 works by Klimt, the Belvedere owns the biggest and most important collection of Klimt paintings in the world.

    You know, I missed the Wien Museum, Klimt Villa and a few others but… I will be sure to come back again and continue where I left off. Bis später!

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  • Travel Articles,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    Exploring The Beauty of Mykonos

    Every single view on the paradise island of Mykonos can be considered picture-perfect. Mykonos is a stunning island in the Mediterranean Sea that’s become a powerhouse of a tourist destination, and it’s natural or manmade beauty is a huge part of it. There are so many spots that are impossibly beautiful that it’d take you a lot of time to explore the entire island and its nooks and crannies.

    Little Venice
    Italy has had a huge influence on the development of Greece and Mykonos in general. They were a huge deal just a couple of centuries ago, in the 16th and 17th century, which was the time when Little Venice was constructed and developed by Venetian sea merchants. It feels like it’s a spot ripped straight from Venice, and the entire beachfront with its restaurants and hotels is an amazing romantic spot that you’ll never want to leave. It has a unique artistic charm that’s been recreated in paintings and other artworks, so make sure to spend as much time as possible.

    Kato Mili
    If you prefer to have a good mix of perfect views and history, then Kato Mili, or the Lower Windmills, is the perfect spot for that. They’ve been constructed several centuries ago by the Venetians in the town of Chora. Some of them stand on the top of the famous spot called Chora Hill, which is where you’ll find some of the finest panoramic views on the island.

    Ornos
    The beauty of Ornos is more calm and quiet than anything else. It’s a small village on the southwestern part of the island, and it’s an interesting mixture between a fishing village and a bustling resort. Its whitewashed villas are some of the most unique ones in the entire wider region, and the beach is considered one of the cleanest and picturesque ones around. Staying at the Adorno Suites right beside the beach is definitely the best way to experience Ornos.

    Ano Mera
    Mykonos has much more history than merely the Venetians. The village of Ano Mera is a colorful little place in the heart of the island, and it’s one that known for its historic and cultural heritage. It’s also the spot of a famous local church by the name of Panagia Tourliani, which is not only a prime example of local architecture but also the home of several Byzantine relics and artifacts.

    Matogianni Street
    Exploring the most unique street on the entire island is always a treat. Matogianni Street is a fine example of how culture, history, and shopping can come together to form one beautiful whole. Filled with shops of varying sizes, most of who sell handmade arts and crafts, as well as cosy taverns offering food and drink, make for one fantastic setting to spend an entire day exploring.

    Mykonos is a destination that has so much to offer. Its beauty is practically unparalleled in the entire Mediterranean, and it’s such a rich destination that you’ll never feel like you’ve seen enough so as to stop exploring more and more of the island.

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  • 10 Creative Writing Prompts Aug2019,  BLOG BM,  Italy

    The Art of Sesat

    Mujur sekarang ada GPS, kalau hendak ke mana-mana, guna sahaja aplikasi peta Google atau Waze dalam telefon bimbit. Betapa mudahnya hidup. Kalau dahulu, kena rujuk pada peta atau pun tanya pada orang secara rawak dengan harapan orang itu tahu arah tempat yang kita hendak pergi.

    Pertama kali sesat

    Teringat saya 9 tahun yang lalu; pertama kali saya sesat di Eropah. Telefon saya ketika itu bukan jenis pintar dan tiada akses roaming atau data Internet tempatan.

    Tempat pertama saya sesat ialah di Venezia pada tahun 2010. Di Venezia tiada kereta dibenarkan jadi semuanya perlu berjalan kaki.

    Dari Stesen Santa Lucia saya mengambil masa yang agak lama untuk sampai ke Piazza San Marco kerana tiada peta di tangan. Saya memang tidak membuat persediaan mahupun membuat rujukan di mana-mana laman web. Sampai Bologna, keluar bilik, ambil teksi pergi stesen, beli tiket dari kaunter (itupun satu hal) dan naik keretapi ke Venezia. Seorang diri.

    Di Venezia, saya seperti tersesat dalam sebuah permainan maze dan tiada jalan keluar. Jalan-jalannya kecil dan setiap jalan yang saya ambil pasti akan ada pintu rumah orang di penghujungnya. Dua jam lamanya saya sesat dan rasa mahu menangis. Akhirnya saya duduk dan tenangkan diri. Saya ingatkan pada diri saya, find where the crowd is. Melalui deria pendengaran, saya menjejaki arah menuju di mana ada ramai orang. Alhamdulillah, saya telah sampai ke jalan utamanya; yang juga kecil seperti lorong-lorong biasa kawasan perumahan. Pada masa itu, saya berjanji pada diri sendiri, lain kali saya akan bawa peta.

    Kali kedua sesat

    Keesokan harinya saya keluar dengan yakin dan berazam tidak mahu sesat. Saya mahu ke pusat bandar Firenze dan lihat Duomo yang gah itu tetapi tiba-tiba saya tiba di kawasan perkampungan yang lenggang. Tiada tanda-tanda kehadiran pelancong pun di situ. Saya berjalan dan berjalan mencari Duomo tetapi tidak berjumpa. Akhirnya saya terjumpa Kafe Internet dan masuk untuk menggunakan komputer dan cari maklumat. Rupa-rupanya saya tersilap stesen! Saya sepatutnya pergi ke Stesen Firenze SMN sebaliknya saya ke Stesen Firenze Rifredi. Ish. Sebelum membayar untuk tempoh saya gunakan Internet, sempat saya update di FB, ‘Sesat di Firenze!’

    Selepas itu, saya berjalan kembali ke stesen, saya beli kopi dari mesin dan duduk di bangku sambil termenung. Saya lihat sekeliling stesen dan sebelum saya bangun untuk ke membeli tiket pulang ke Bologna, saya nampak papan tanda LED, “Firenze SMN – Partenza 5 min”. Cepat-cepat saya beli tiket dan naik keretapi. Phew, akhirnya sampai juga di Bandar Firenze. Jam menunjukkan pukul 3 petang, saya mundar-mandir di kawasan stesen dan keluar sedikit ke kawasan membeli-belah. Dapatlah beli t-shirt untuk bawa balik. Saya tidak berani mencari arah ke Duomo kerana takut tersesat. Jam 5 petang, saya beli tiket pulang ke Bologna. Dalam keretapi, saya memujuk hati saya, “tak mengapa, Firenze aku akan datang lagi lain tahun.”

    Kali ketiga sesat

    Kemudian, empat tahun selepas itu saya sesat lagi, ketika saya kembali semula ke Venezia. Saya lupa janji saya pada diri saya untuk kembali dengan peta, sebaliknya saya kembali dengan sahabat saya, Evi.

    “Emila, you pernah datang sini, kan? Jom kita cari tempat untuk melukis plein-air!?” kata Evi teruja. “Uh-um,” ujar saya sambil teringat peristiwa sebelum ini. “I try,” jawab saya lagi sambil tergelak kecil.

    Sesat kali ketiga ini terjadi semasa belum sampai ke Venezia pun. Haha! Alkisahnya, kami tersilap menaiki keretapi. Kami menaiki keretapi regional yang lebih murah dari keretapi laju, seawal jam 9 pagi. Kami jangkakan jika kami tiba awal, kami akan dapat melukis di banyak tempat di Venezia.

    Sambil berbual, kami pun menaiki keretapi. Dalam keretapi kami berbual lagi sambil melihat-lihat pemandangan di luar yang indah. Ada bukit-bukau, ada rumah batu di tengah-tengah ladang, ada bandar tua dan macam-macam lagi pemandangan yang menyegarkan mata. Setelah sejam setengah dalam keretapi, saya mula hairan kerana pemandangannya tidak sama seperti yang saya lihat dahulu. “Ah, mungkin ikut jalan lain,” bisik hati saya. Sehinggalah di stesen berikut, keretapi berhenti dan seorang konduktor tiket naik untuk memeriksa tiket kami.

    No, no, Padua, Padua,” kata konduktor tiket sambil menunjuk arah ke hadapan. “Questo Venezia,” bilangnya lagi sambil menunjuk pada tiket kami. Hah sudah! Silap keretapi rupanya!

    Pronto, pronto,” kata konduktor menyuruh kami turun cepat dengan signal tangan kerana keretapi akan bergerak sebentar lagi. Sebelum itu, dia memberi kami tiket untuk menaiki keretapi pulang ke Stesen Bologna, “Dieci,” sambungnya sambil mengangkat kesemua sepuluh jari dan tunjuk telunjuknya pada saya, kemudia diulangi pergerakan jari yang sama pada Evi. Aha! Sepuluh Euro seorang. Kami membeli tiket darinya dan turun. Hahahahahah! Kami gelak bagai nak gila! Saya minta maaf pada Evi kerana tersilap keretapi.

    Akhirnya selepas menaiki keretapi semula ke Bologna, dan naik keretapi yang betul ke Venezia dari sana, kami pun sampai sekitar jam 2 petang. Banyak masa habis di perjalanan. Anehnya, apabila sampai di Venezia, saya tahu pula arah mana yang hendak dituju. Kami duduk melukis sehingga jam 6 petang di dua kawasan di situ. Semasa perjalanan pulang dari Venezia, Evi bersuara, “lain kali kita pergi ke tempat yang kita sesat siang tadi, nak Emila? Apa nama stesennya?”

    “Montselice,” jawab saya sambil memikirkan adegan kami sesat lagi nanti di situ pula.

    Sesat berkali-kali

    Ada banyak lagi kejadian sesat; antaranya, tersilap stesen untuk ke Cinque Terre yang membuang masa kami selama 3 jam, tersilap menaiki bas untuk pulang ke tempat penginapan yang menyebabkan kami kesejukan di malam buta sehingga jam 10 malam sehinggalah kami dapatkan bantuan pekerja kafe membantu kami menelefon teksi untuk pulang setelah tiada satu pun bas atau teksi yang lalu di perhentian bas yang kami tunggu.

    Kalau mahu bercerita tentang sesat di sini memang tak habis sebab banyak lagi cerita sesat ketika kembara ke beberapa negara lain dan juga di negara sendiri. Apa yang saya boleh katakan, sesat mengajar saya untuk bertenang, melihat dan mendengar dengan baik serta jangan malu atau takut bertanya. Belajar sedikit bahasa tempatan yang perlu seperti huruf, ucapan lazim, maksud perkataan di stesen keretapi, dan sebagainya.

    Uno, due, tre , quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, DIECI. Dieci sentiasa mengingatkan saya pada konduktor keretapi di Montselice.

    Stesen Fornovo. Kami turun di sini kerana kami jangkakan kami perlu tukar keretapi di sini. Tetapi rupanya kami perlu tukar di Stesen Modena.
    Bangunan usang berdekatan Stesen Fornovo.

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  • Kuala Lumpur,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    Amazing Fun Theme Parks in Kuala Lumpur

    Hello, travel-lovers and avid readers! How are y’all doing? Hope you’re having a blast each second of every day as I am. We are not getting any younger, so, why waste our time worrying about little things, right? Today’s entry is going to be about that – about having fun while we still have the energy in our bones to have it! We’re going to dive into some of the best theme parks you can find in Kuala Lumpur.

    Imagine this, let’s say you are travelling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur and you began to wonder, “Where’s the fun in this bustling city?” Well, that is a question I might be able to help you out with.

    Behold! 3 Fun Theme Parks in Kuala Lumpur!

    I-CITY SHAH ALAM 

    i-City Shah Alam is as much fun when it is daytime as it is night time. I hope that’s not confusing. Okay, bear with me, we’re about to go technical for a bit. i-City Shah Alam spreads about 72 acres of land and established in 2009. Apart from coming out as a major business centre comprises of various industries including biotechnology and software development, this place is mostly known to its theme park nature that never ceased to bring joy and fun to both kids and adults. i-City Shah Alam looks even prettier at night because of its colourful lightings that are both artistic and mesmerizing. At the theme park itself, you’ll be able to find various attractions such as the Outdoor Park Rides, Snowalk, Fun World Rides, Red Carpet, House of Horror, Trick Art Museum and WaterWorld. Each attraction will range from RM5 to RM100 per pax and it varied according to the attractions of course.

    SUNWAY LAGOON THEME PARK

    Sunway Lagoon is one of the pioneers of theme parks in Kuala Lumpur. I can still remember when it was first just a water theme park. It’s amazing how a simple water theme park now evolves into something this big and I’m pretty sure it’s not going to end there. Again, switching to the technical aspects for a bit. Sunway Lagoon covers over 88 acres with 90 attractions open for visitors. Its main attractions including the Water Park, Amusement Park, Wildlife Park, Extreme Park, Scream Park and Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon. Admission rates for an adult of 13 years old and above are RM169.80, children of 12 years old and below is RM141.50, while a senior citizen of 60 years old and above is RM141.50. IFor international traveller, an adult of 13 years old and above is RM254.70, children of 12 years old and below is RM212.30, while a senior citizen of 60 years old and above is also RM212.30. Just by looking at everything from afar is going to blow your mind, let alone actually experiencing each and every one of those rides. I’m sure you’ll leave the theme park feeling blessed.

    DISTRICT 21 KUALA LUMPUR

    Do you like to get your gear on and live on the edge? Do you like to feel the adrenaline pumping in your chest and blood rushing through your veins? District 21 is an adventure theme park situated inside a shopping mall that will give you the rush you crave for. Inside IOI City Mall, Putrajaya on the top floor where you will find the post-apocalyptic style entrance to District 21. There are 11 attractions inside with different level of difficulties. Not all children can play the attractions provided. The attractions consist of suspended ropes, chains and platforms. If you have a high level of fear of heights, this might be a challenge for you. The entrance fees are RM58 on weekdays and RM76 on weekends. Visitors who are wheelchair-bound and children below 90 cm in height are not applicable to pay any admission fees.

    So, what do you think? Are you up for it? If you really fly from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, let me give you a little hint on the best deals you can get. Traveloka. They got some pretty good deals too. If you have experience buying with them, share me your stories. If you’ve gone to the listed theme parks, share me your stories too!

    Until then, see you in my next entry.

  • Chugoku/Shikoku,  Japan

    Chugoku and Shikoku Travel Art Journal

    A number of 10 spreads were done in Japan, the rest was done at home. Enjoy! Do share if you like the journal.

     

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  • Chugoku/Shikoku,  Japan,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    BEST OF CHUGOKU AND SHIKOKU IN SUMMER

    I have never been to the southern regions of Japan, so recently I went on a familiarisation trip organised by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) to Chugoku and Shikoku with a couple of bloggers from home accompanied by a tour guide, Miko-san who was born and bred in Shikoku. Why the two regions? I read that Chugoku and Shikoku are two fascinating regions known for their historical sites.

    CHUGOKU

    The Chugoku Region makes up the western part of Japan’s main island Honshu. The Chugoku region is best known for its two top prefectures; Okayama and Hiroshima. Okayama has a wealth of fantastic attractions such as historical gardens and original castles, while Hiroshima boasts some of the World Heritage sites, shrines, museums, and many more.

    SHIKOKU

    Shikoku is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshu and east of the island of Kyushu. The Shikoku region is best known for its two top prefectures; Ehime and Kagawa. Ehime is famous for its historic Dogo Onsen and Matsuyama Castle, while Kagawa is well known for its udon noodles, which are named after the prefecture’s old name Sanuki.

    This is our map. If you see the map, we basically make one big round around the two regions. From Okayama, we went to Kagawa, then Ehime and Hiroshima before making our way back to Shin-Osaka riding on the shinkansen.

    So, I flew seven hours to Kansai, Japan with the two bloggers, Pojie and Faizal, on the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline, AirAsia X. A sensational premium flex perks aboard their Airbus A330-300, ready to explore Chugoku and Shikoku.

    OKAYAMA PREFECTURE

    From Kansai airport, we took a ride on the Limited Haruka Express to Shin-Osaka Station before travelling like thunder on the Nozomi Shinkansen to Okayama Station. It was a fast 50 minutes ride!

    The view from my room.

    Okayama Station is one of the major intersections of railways in the Chugoku region. All trains connecting Honshu and Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge originate and terminate here.

    We checked in the best and convenient hotel; Hotel Granvia Okayama, which is directly connected to the

    JR Okayama Station. Hotel Granvia Okayama is a Muslim-friendly hotel that provides Muslim guests with prayer mats and qibla compasses. In addition, the hotel has a prayer room on the 2nd floor which can fit up to eight people to pray.

    My room was on the 14th floor, spacious and bright with windows overlooking Okayama Station on the left, bus platform in the middle and buildings lining Shiyakusho-suji Avenue on the left.

    Dinner that evening was spent at the Olivier Restaurant. The restaurant served Halal-certified meat, non-pork and non-alcoholic menu. I enjoyed the delicious menu of Scallops with Lemon Coulis Sauce, mushroom soup, Lamb Chops with Checca Sauce, Mango Sherbet. Only sounds of satisfaction heard from Pojie and Faizal as they savoured each and every dish. I gave the food five stars and I bet they did too.

    Scallops with Lemon Coulis Sauce.

    Hotel Granvia Okayama also serves vegetarian food and bears two peach mark logos. In Okayama, Muslims can look for the Peach Mark logo and find facilities that cater for halal or pork-free food. The Okayama health tourism association, which was jointly set up by the municipalities of Okayama, Maniwa and Kibichuo, as well as a regional tourist association, has started to grant the certification to accommodation facilities, restaurants, cafes and other places that Muslims can easily identify.

    Peach Mark I bearing a pink peach is for facilities providing food that contains nothing from a pig, while also boasting English menus for Muslims. Peach Mark II, featuring a pink peach and a yellow peach, has all the criteria from Peach Mark I but adds a written explanation about the raw ingredients in the products. Eateries that use meat certified as halal, or offer vegetarian meals, are more likely to be certified with Peach Mark II.

    Okayama Health Tourism has published a guidebook that features certified facilities to promote the Peach Mark logo recognition. You can look for the guidebook at any tourism spot in Okayama or go to www.okayamahealthtourism.com. You can find a lot of Muslim-friendly hotels and food outlets on this website.

    Okayama Muslim-friendly Guidebook and Peach Mark I & II.

    The best way to truly explore Okayama is by car, so together with Satoko-san and Takaaki-san from Okayama Health Tourism, as well as Ikeda-san from JNTO, we set out on our rambling green countryside adventure. I love road trips. There is nothing better than immersing myself with the green landscapes en route south-west to Kamiichi, Akaiwa. It was a 30 minutes drive and I breathed-in everything around me; the shapes of Japanese houses, the wildflowers by the roadside, people cycling to work, serene paddy fields and many more. It was very refreshing.

    Happy to pick two big peaches!

    Okayama produces the largest volume of Shimizu Hakuto white peaches and since it is summer, the peaches are ready to be picked. In Akaiwa, we went to Tomomien Farm to pick peaches. Admission fee is ¥1800 (Pick two peaches + eat TWO PEACHES). I had my first real taste of Shimizu Hakuto, and oh the taste is the sweetest!

    Next, we went to Okayama Korakuen Garden. We were blessed with rain on our visit, but that did not stop us from enjoying the garden.

    Korakuen Garden is one of the three great gardens of Japan with more than 300 years of history. It was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama. The garden reached its modern form in 1863. The garden was designed in the Kaiyu (scenic promenade) style which presents the visitor with a new view at every turn of the path which connects the lawns, ponds, hills, tea houses, and streams.

    In the close proximity, there’s the Okayama Castle. The main tower of Okayama Castle was completed in 1597, destroyed in 1945 and replicated in concrete in 1966. Two of the watchtowers survived the bombing of 1945 and are now listed by the National Agency for Cultural Affairs as Important Cultural Properties. Okayama Castle has a black exterior, earning it the nickname Crow Castle or “castle of the blackbird”.

    Okayama Korakuen Garden with Okayama Castle in the backdrop.

    Our first lunch was spent dining at Shikisai Restaurant located in the outer garden of Korakuen. We enjoyed Okayama local traditional called Matsuri-zushi. Matsuri means festival and the sushi is colourfully decorated with a lot of fresh fish and seasonal vegetables such as shiitake mushrooms and lotus root, scalloped Kinshi as well as other seafood like shrimp and octopus in a bowl. On the side, there was soba noodle in seaweed hot broth, a piece of duck meat with pickles and dessert. It was truly a gem meal. Shikisai has the Peach Mark I logo and a temporary prayer room.

    Matsuri-zushi set lunch.

    From Korakuen Garden, it was time to explore the more historical area in Okayama. We went to Kurashiki Bikan. The old merchant quarter or known as Bikan historical area contains many fine examples of 17th-century wooden warehouses (Kura) painted white with traditional black tiles, along with a canal framed with weeping willows and filled with koi. The area has no electric poles in order to make it more closely resemble the look of the Meiji period.

    Kurashiki is the home of Japan’s first museum for Western art, the Ohara Museum of Art. Established in 1930 by Magosaburo Ohara, it contains paintings by El Greco, Monet, Matisse, Gauguin, and Renoir. The collection also presents fine examples of Asian and contemporary art.

    One of the Kura warehouses in Kurashiki Bikan.

    From Kurashiki, we took the train back to Okayama Station and then travelled to Takamatsu on a Marine Liner.

    KAGAWA PREFECTURE

    The Marine Liner links Okayama with Takamatsu, the capital city of Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, via the Seto Ohashi Bridges. Seto Ohashi Bridges consists of six long-span bridges (Shimotsui-Seto Bridge, Hitsuishijima Bridge, Iwakurojima Bridge, Yoshima Bridge, Kita Bisan-Seto Bridge, and Minami Bisan- Seto Bridge) which cross the 9.4 kilometres straits.

    A view of Islands I captured from inside Marine Liner crossing Seto Ohashi bridges.

    Operating at a top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph), our journey on the Marine Liner took approximately 55–60 minutes to Takamatsu Station. The area around Takamatsu Station is a major shopping and entertainment district. The station building has a convenience store, a souvenir store selling local products, a bakery and Udon restaurant as well as coin lockers and tourist information.

    Within a walking distance from the station, there is the Maritime Plaza Shopping Mall, JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu and the Sun Port Takamatsu Symbol Tower. The 30-storey Symbol Tower, the highest building on Shikoku, has an observation deck (open 10am-8pm) with excellent views of the Inland Sea and Takamatsu city below, plus extensive shopping and restaurant options. Takamatsu Castle is a 10-minute walk.

    Our accommodation for the night was JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu. JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu features rooms with panoramic sea and city views, a minute stroll from JR Takamatsu Station. The hotel is also in front of a ferry terminal, which by the way, was also the view from my room on the 8th floor. Facilities at the Takamatsu Clement include a business centre, a souvenir shop and a flower shop. Dry cleaning service and luggage storage are available. Bar Astro offers original and popular cocktails, as well as snacks, with panoramic views from the 21st floor.

    Dinner that night was at a Tempura restaurant at Daikumachi area which was 5 minutes walk from the hotel, 2 minutes ride on an old train and 10 minutes walk. The Tempura restaurant, Tengin Imajimmachimise serves only Tempura. Basically, Tempura is Japanese dish usually consisting of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep-fried. The dish was influenced by fritter-cooking techniques introduced by Portuguese residing in Nagasaki in the 16th century, and the name “tempura” relates to that origin. Bismillahirahmanirrahim.

    It was a 9-piece tempura set. The tempura is served hot from the frying pan.

    After dinner, we enjoyed strolling the streets back to the hotel.

    After packing our bags the next morning, we had a new ride on a small coach bus (driven by Katsuyuki Miyatake-san) and it was time to visit Ritsurin Garden which nestled peacefully amidst the beautiful greenery of Mt. Shiun (Purple Cloud Mountain) as a backdrop. Ritsurin Garden is a daimyo (feudal lord) garden, which was completed in 1745 over a period of one hundred years. Designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, this spacious garden features 6 ponds and 13 landscaped hills.

    When entering the garden, we were greeted by Japanese black pine trees lining the entrance walkway. I was so amazed at their wavy form (as if they are dancing), that I had to come up with a haiku:

    Ritsurin’s gnarl beasts
    having the time of their lives —
    getting in the swing.
    -Emila

    Japanese black pine trees.

    While strolling I enjoyed the changing landscapes. It is said that the variety of scenery has the attraction of “ippo ikkei” or a change in scenery with every step. In the garden, there are buildings, such as Kikugetsu-tei teahouse, where matcha (powdered green tea) is served while viewing the picturesque landscape. Breathtaking moss-covered trees, lazy rivers and ponds and complete peace made this visit a luxurious outing.

    Ritsurin Garden.

    After having a quiet outing, Miko-san said the next one would be fast-paced; making udon! When we entered Nakano Udon school located in Nakatado, I saw a lot of tambourines in a box on a table. I was wondering what tambourine got to do with udon. Only after being in the class making the udon, while doing the dough thread, I know why. We were required to dance to the beat of the music and use the tambourine while threading! O what a fun!

    At Nakano Udon School, we enjoyed making our own Sanuki udon noodles and learned the process from A to Z. The instructor, Toshio Noto-san taught us in detail how to make udon the kneading of the dough. The dough is then rolled out with a special rolling pin, boiled, and eaten – all the steps are covered! Apparently, before we got to eat our own udon, we were presented with the completion certificate and a rolling pin. We are all now Certified Udon Masters.

    Udon Masters!

    We had the honour to boil our own udon and later ate it with dishes such as tempura and chirashi-zushi. The fee is ¥1300 yen per person for a group of 15-500 people, ¥1500 yen per person for a group of 2-14 people (tax not included). We finished our udon lunch with a sense of pride and satisfaction.

    After our stomachs were full, we went to Konpira (Kotohira-gu). This shrine is dedicated to sailors who have lost their lives at sea and is notable for its that visitors are required to climb in order to reach the shrine.

    Miyatake-san drove us up until Kamitsubaki Restaurant (a Shiseido Parlour). From there we climbed less than 30 steps (I think) to the Omote-shoin (formal drawing room). Omote-shoin was used as a venue for rites and for receiving worshippers. Do you want to know how many steps from the foot of the mountain to the main shrine? 1,368 stone steps! Sadly, we had to pass the climb as we had to rush to Matsuyama Castle before it closes for the day at 5.30pm.

    So from Nakatado, off we went to Matsuyama City in the Ehime Prefecture. The traffic was quite bad and we got stuck  in the jam for almost for 3 hours on the highway. Miko-san said the plan had to change. We would visit Matsuyama Castle the next day.

    EHIME PREFECTURE

    Ehime Prefecture is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. Ehime faces the Seto Inland Sea to the north and is bordered by Kagawa and Tokushima in the east and Kochi in the south. The prefecture includes both high mountains in the inland region and a long coastline, with many islands in the Seto Inland Sea.

    Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture is located on the northeastern portion of the D?go Plain. Its name means “pine mountain”. The city was founded on December 15, 1889. The city is known for its hot springs (onsen), among the oldest in Japan, and is home to the Dogo Onsen Honkan, a Meiji Period wooden public bathhouse dating from 1894.

    By the time we arrived in Matsuyama city, it was almost 5.30pm. Since Matsuyama is home to Dogo Onsen Honkan, we had the pleasure of staying at Dogo Grand Hotel that hotel offers spacious ryokan accommodation that can fit two to five guests. Amenities include the usual plus a yukata and a pair of clogs.

    The Grand Dogo Hotel ryokan room.

    “Please wear the yukata and clog, we can walk the street on it,” said Miko-san. “Emila, I help you with the obi,” she added. After getting ourselves in the yukata, we went to the reception to take a basket each. The basket is for us to put the towel. But since we already taken our bath in our room, we just carry it and put our camera and wallet.

    Dogo Arcade.

    We walk along Dogo Arcade wearing yukata to experience the true charm of this onsen town. Dogo Arcade is lined with shops and restaurants. We enjoyed browsing the for souvenirs – bamboo ware, Tobeyaki ceramics, Hime Daruma dolls, even the food products that derived from citrus, fruits of Matsuyama. Other than that there were many shops selling Botchan-Dango. This three-coloured confectionery is mentioned in Soseki Natsume’s novel Botchan, set in Matsuyama. Small balls of dumpling are coated with bean paste coloured with adzuki beans, egg yolk and matcha for natural colouring.

    At the end of the arcade, there’s the Dogo Onsen Honkan. It is Japan’s oldest hot spring with a history going back about 3,000 years. It has been awarded three stars by the Michelin Green Guide Japan, and it’s the first public bathhouse to be designated an important national cultural property. The current building is a three-storey wooden structure rebuilt in 1894. Bathers can choose from four courses in the Kami no Yu and Tama no Yu baths. For a fee, you can also visit the Yushinden, Japan’s only bathroom for the use of the Imperial family. A time-keeping drum in the Shinrokaku at the top of the bathhouse marks the time at 6:00, 12:00 and 18:00.

    Dogo Onsen Honkan.

    We then walked to the other side of the L-shaped arcade and found Botchan Karakuri Clock. The Botchan Karakuri Clock was built in the Hojoen plaza in front of Dogo Onsen Station to mark the 100th anniversary of Dogo Onsen Honkan. On the hour between 8:00 and 22:00, the Karakuri Clock comes to life, presenting characters and scenes from Soseki Natsume’s novel Botchan set in Matsuyama and Dogo. The clock is modelled on the Shinrokaku of Dogo Onsen Honkan.

    I had a great night. Never had I thought to walk in Japan wearing yukata and clog.

    Early morning the next day, we made our way to Matsuyama Castle. It was raining and we took the cable car up to the castle area. Alternatively, there are lift chairs but due to rain the service was suspended until the rain stops.

    Matsuyama Castle is one of only twelve surviving castle towers built during or before the Edo period. Construction started in 1602, and it took a quarter of a century to complete. Located in the centre of the city, the top of the castle tower overlooks the Matsuyama plain and the Seto Inland Sea. The defensive walls include sections that climb up the hill in the manner of Japanese castles built in Korea. The entire area of the castle park within the moat is a national historic site, and 21 buildings are designated important national cultural properties. In 2014, it came second in a ranking of the most satisfying Japanese castles to visit. It’s also famous for its cherry blossoms.

    Ticket booth at the entrance of before Matsuyama Castle.

    HIROSHIMA PREFECTURE

    Hiroshima Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima with a population of around 2.8 million.

    The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word “Hiroshima” was that it was the site of the first atomic bomb in history.

    Hiroshima boasts two UNESCO World Heritage sites: The Atomic Dome in Hiroshima, one of the few remnants of pre-war Hiroshima following the atomic bombing in 1945 and The Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, famed for filling with water and appearing to “float” during high tide.

    From Matsuyama, we went straight to Hatsukaichi to catch a ferry to Miyajima Island to see the floating Otorii and the shrine. It was a 20 minutes ferry ride and it was raining. It was here when I could not take walking in rain-soaked shoes, so I bought a pair of Japanese slippers.

    Otorii Gate.orthwest

    Miyajima Island or Itsukushima is an island in the western part of the Inland Sea of Japan, located in the northwest of Hiroshima Bay. The island is one of Hayashi Gaho’s Three Views of Japan specified in 1643. Itsukushima is part of the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture. The island was part of the former town of Miyajima before the 2005 merger with Hatsukaichi.

    According to historical records, Itsukushima shrine was established during the reign of Empress Suiko. The warrior-courtier Taira no Kiyomori gave the shrine its present form.

    Itsukushima has a number of temples, including Toyokuni Shrine with a five-storied pagoda, and Daiganji Temple – one of the three most famous Benzaiten temples of Japan. The island is also famous for its upper hillside cherry blossoms and maple leaf autumn foliage.

    Itsukushima is mountainous and sparsely settled. It has an elementary school and a middle school. There are no traffic signals. It is rural and mountainous and has a human population of about 2000. Because the island is seen as sacred, trees may not be cut for lumber.

    Deers mingling with tourists.

    Deer and monkeys roam freely. Deer are thought of as sacred in the native Shinto religion because they are considered messengers of the gods. They walk the streets of the city, not afraid of the tourists. There are no cities, only small towns with simple houses and privately owned shops. The Islanders work hard to preserve the forests and respect nature.

    Grilled Oysters.

    Momiji cakes filled with azuki jam or custard (this is something like dorayaki with maple leaf shape), are popular souvenirs. Other than that Miyajima is famous for its oyster dishes.

    Talk about oyster, we had a great oyster lunch at Mametanuki Restaurant. We had Kakifry set meal which is Fried Oysters Meal (¥1,700). It is a classic set meal set with miso soup made by using fish soup stock for the salad with Hiroshima prefecture’s large grain flour, salted Kuwata rice, carefully selected delicious pickles and fresh vegetables.

    After having tea and a taste of Momiji cake, we went to the ferry terminal to catch a ferry ride back to Miyamaguchi. From there, we departed with Ikeda-san who had to catch a train back to Tokyo.

    Later, Miyatake-san drove us to our next stay, Hotel Granvia Hiroshima and we departed with him as his task was completed. When I walked to the reception area I saw many origami cranes hanging in the middle of the lobby. Cranes are a symbol of peace. Indeed in Hiroshima, paper cranes and crane sculptures can be found all over Hiroshima. I have some origami cranes too in my journal, had one in my pocket and one in my backpack.

    Hotel Granvia Hiroshima is a beautiful hotel in a great central location to city trains, taxis and buses out front. Rooms are nice and clean with stylish decor. On level 10 there is a terrace where we can have a nice view of the night skyscrapers and lights without the distraction of the city down below.

    For the first time after few days, we just went to have some biryani at Namaste Restaurant at Danbaraminami Minami-ku, just near the hotel. Now, instead of Miko-san teaching us how to eat Japanese food, we taught her how to eat the hot and spicy biryani. Apparently, she had it before and love the taste.

    Other than Namaste, Hiroshima has a few halal restaurants where visitors can dine. Some of the best halal restaurants in Hiroshima include Warung Matahari and Cafe Teratai. There is also Turkish food available.

    There are a couple of mosques in Hiroshima. The mosques in Hiroshima include the Hiroshima Islamic Centre and the Hiroshima Kasumi Minami-kuMushalla.

    The next morning, also the last day of our stay in Japan, we took a bus ride to the Peace Memorial Park. The Main Building is currently closed for comprehensive renovations until it will be opened again to the public in spring 2019.

    We browsed through the east building area that houses the permanent exhibition that includes Introductory Exhibit, Hiroshima before the bombing, a digital diorama of the bombing, A Lost Way of Life, and many more.

    A monument based on the Pope’s Appeal for Peace that would serve as a source of peace inspiration, the Committee for Monument Commemorating Pope John Paul II’s Appeal for Peace.

    “War is the work of man.
    War is destruction of human life.
    War is death.
    To remember the past is to commit oneself to the future.
    To remember Hiroshima is to abhor nuclear war.
    To remember Hiroshima is to commit oneself to peace.”

    10:30 a.m., 25 February 1981
    Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
    His Holiness Pope John Paul II

    And with the quotes, I concluded my Chugoku and Shikoku trip.

    While there are many options and destinations within the country, it is difficult to experience the two regions on one visit alone and apparently, there are more on the list but within 5 days, I can only visit some of the places suggested.

    If you are planning to go, take your time when travelling through these two regions. Although it’s possible to drive the length of southern Japan in five days, do take more than that to traverse and explore the regions, on foot, by cycling or even catch the many options of train rides.

    I am planning to come back and explore more and that will be more on Japanese art because, in Chugoku and Shikoku, I saw that there is no shortage of art places to visit and see.

    Arigato, Japan, until we meet again!