After a full stomach on a tasty hot and spicy lunch in Bangkok probalby the best place to keep away from is the Museum of Forensic Medicine. Here you can see some interesting and sometimes gastly body parts and images of terrible crimes and the bizzare. The museum has a huge collection of bodies, and organs including some horrible sights that would make the strongest person sick. Some of the exhibits have an artistic touch others are just plain in your face. there are victims with gun shot wounds, accident victims, deformities and plenty of organs in various states. A place you really need to prepare your self before you visit and deal with once you leave.. Only for the brave.
Lamma Island is the third largest island in Hong Kong and home to approx 6000 people but unlike Hong Kong, Lamma Island is well known in the area for being peaceful and quiet. One of the most interesting things about Lamma Island is that there are no major streets on the island, instead it has a collection of foot paths and trails in amongst a very green town where low rise buildings are set amongst trees and shrubs. As there are no streets there are also no cars with everyone getting around the island on foot or by bike. The major town on the island is Yung Shue Wan with the smaller Sok Kwu Wan located on the other side of the island in picnic bay. Both towns are a popular spot for seafood restaurants and the whole island has a Mediterranean feel to it. Ferries run to both Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan from central Hong Kong and can take any where between 30 to 45 min.
The 2008 Olympic Games kick on in the Chinese capital Beijing on the 8th of August and the world is going to be amazed at not only some incredible sporting moments but some of the most cutting edge and daring architecture the world has ever seen. The main stadium which looks like a huge steel bird’s nest and the National Aquatic Centre which is dubbed the Water Cube are two of the spectacular highlights. The Watercube has been designed by Australian and Chinese engineers and architects and will seat over 17000 spectators who will watch nearly 50 gold medals be awarded during the Olympic Games. Read the rest of this entry »
Tokyo has a few borrowed land marks, there’s the replica of the Eifel Tower, although in a bright orange paint job, Disneyland and the Statue of Liberty. Sitting proudly overlooking Tokyo Bay and the Golden Gate inspired Rainbow Bridge is a 1/4 scale of New York’s magnificent lady. It was originally only a temporary structure, the French gave it to Tokyo in 1998 to celebrate the French Year in Japan but the Japanese loved it so much a replica of the one the French gave them was commissioned and built on the same site. It is now one of Tokyo’s most photographed monuments. Just like the New York monument the statue is made of iron and green copper bronze, it even has gold leafing encircling the beautiful torch of freedom. There are quiet a few more Statues of Liberty in Japan most are on tacky ‘Love Hotels’ and there is another one in the American Themed city of Amerika-MuraOsaka in the heart of Osaka.
Hong Kong’s Happy Valley is one of the world’s busiest racecourses. Originally swamp land’s the course is now the largest stretch of flat land on the Hong Kong island. Wednesday evening races are the best for atmosphere, they are held evey second week and the fun kicks off at 7:30, with thosands attending. It pays to get there early as quiet offten the 55,000 capacity track sells out. For something really special make a booking at the Moon Koon Restaurant which is on the second floor of the main stand, food is good and price not too bad and the view is amazing, a great way to watch the action. Billions are bet at the track every year, Hong Kong runs on money, and if there’s a chance to win some just about everyone will give it a go. Just remember not everyone wins! Read the rest of this entry »
Chairman Mao was the founder of the People’s Republic of China and he is one of the essential characters in the modern history of this huge country. The Chairman died in 1976 and a huge mausoleum was built at the south end of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square as a place where over 10 million people have paid their respect to Mao’s body in his crystal coffin, dressed in his usual grey suit draped in the red Communist Party flag. The memorial hall is a striking building measuring 260 metres by 220 metres with marble and yellow granite. Mao wouldn’t have been too happy being put on display like this, he actually wanted to be cremated, but the Communist Party of China had other ideas and embalmed him. As you would expect at such an important place, security is very high and there is restrictions on bags, cameras and other items. You must wear respectful clothing and keep walking through the complex, which takes only about 5 -10 minutes, you can wait for several hours to get into the building. One strange thing you will notice with your visit, like all attractions, its ends at the gift shop- where else! Read the rest of this entry »
A museum dedicated to noodles may seam a bit odd but it fits right in in Yokohama Japan. When Ramen was introduced to Japan from China the Japanese embraced the food and even developed the instant ramen dish that is popular all over the world whenever you feel like noodles in 2 minutes. You may wonder how you could fill one floor of a museum dedicated to a fairly ordinary food product but the Ramen Museum fills 3 floors with a recreation of Tokyo in 1958 (the year instant ramen was created), a gift shop and of course places to try out you favorite ramen. there even is a small factory exhibit where you can create your own take away ramen. The Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum and Aumusement Park as its one of those classic quirky Japanese attractions that is worth a visit, its located about 3 mins walk from JR Shin Yokohama station. Read the rest of this entry »
The futuristic city of Odaiba in Tokyo is know for it’s weird and amazing architecture and the Fuji TV centre is right up there with the best. The centre houses their offices and studios for many of their live shows and dramas. The Iron Chef which has a huge cult following was filmed at the centre between 1993 and 2001. Today huge shows like Ainori a dating program, Shikaotoko Aoniyoshi the Fantastic Deer man and 1 litre of tears are filmed there along with countless game shows, news and sport programs. The studios have a little blue dog you might see on some Japanese programs his name is Laugh, if you are really lucky when you visit you might get to see this fury critter mascot greeting the crowds. You can take a self guided tour of the complex and even visit the huge spherical lookout at the top, and on many weekends there are live shows and events being held in the court yards around the complex so you will have hours of fun. You might even be able to get yourself into the studio audience of one of the zany Japanese game shows.
If you were an Iron Chef and wanted to deck out your kitchen stadium the best place to go for kitchen equipment would be Kappabashi in Tokyo. Kappabashi is Kitchen Town and it lies between Ueno and the electronics mecca of Asakusa. Here you can buy anything you would need to start up a kitchen from chopsticks, to uniforms to plates and saucers even those amazing plastic food models you see everywhere in Japan. There are hundreds of shops many specialising in different types of kitchen goods, for example Hashito sells chopsticks, and a shop called Tanaka sells lacquerware, and then there Kamata who sells knives. The plastic food shops are amazing, one good one is Maizuru, you can virtually find any type of food here all in resin, from noodles to steak, from sushi to eggs and even full seafood platters and buffets- the range is amazing- but they don’t come cheap some costing thousands of yen. But for the tourist there are some smaller affordable ones, and they have a good range of novelty fridge magnets and the like. The easiest way to visit Kappabashi is catch the Ginza line train and get off at Tawaramachi Station then its only a few blocks walk from exit 3. Most of the shops are open six days a week being closed on Sundays.
The Hiroshima Castle or Carp Castle as it is affectionate known was once the home of the Damiyo or the Feuda Lord of Hiroshima. The original castle was constructed in he 1590’s but was destroyed by the atomic attack of the Second World War but was rebuilt to the original but with new materials with a lot of concrete structure in 1958. Today the castle is a museum which features much history of the city prior to the war. The perimeter of the castle is surrounded by moats which are home to giant carps and turtles which bask in the sun. The original castle was declared a national treasure in 1931 and today although rebuilt the people of Hiroshima are very proud of this lovely structure.
