Friday, June 29, 2012

Kyoto Station 京都駅 & Hotel Granvia Kyoto


Our Japan trip started with visit to Kyoto first then transferred to Osaka. When we first arrived to Kansai Airport (KIX) , we took JR train to our hotel Granvia Kyoto which just located right at the Kyoto station.

Kyoto Tower Hotel night reflection on Kyoto station..

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 I did some researched on the transportation before we go to Kyoto, and i found that buying JR West Rail Pass would be cheaper by about JPY 1000 (we bought 1 day pass since we were not able to utilise on consecutive days , and this pass only can be purchased one time per entry ).

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The weather were cloudy when we arrived, this was the scene we saw when we were on JR train to Kyoto station from Kansai airport..i found that Japanese people like to plant vegetables beside their house. It is so nice to have home grown and organic vegetables..

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Kyoto Station
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A long series of escalators and stairs, to an open air observation deck is located on the top floor of the station building

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We stayed at Hotel Granvia Kyoto. This hotel is very clean and comfortable..
Since our stayed in Kyoto only has 3 nights, we decided to choose a hotel that close to the train station so we can easily moving around. Hotel Granvia Kyoto is located just right inside the Kyoto station. So it is very very convenient to take train, bus and other transports from this hotel.  
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They supply with full range of bathroom accessories..

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They even supply with facial wash and makeup remover..this definitely win women's heart..hehehe..

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I love their  body soap and shampoo, very frangrant and smell nice..
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I have heard of this Japanese high-tech toilet seat, now i know how comfortable is this toilet seat, feel so warm, hehehe..Some toilet seat in major departmental store like Daimaru and Isetan, they even have music to choose (just not to disturb your neighbour while you are doing business ^_^)

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The view outside the hotel room, a long Shinkansen train just passed by..

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Our 1st meal in Kyoto.. Since we still blur blur and did not realized that there are plenty of restaurants at the basement of Kyoto station. We walked to outside and found this gyoza and noodle restaurant ..
When we tried to enter this restaurant, we saw automative 自动sign on the handle of the entrance door, since it is automative, so we just stand there and wait for the doors to open but it was not happened. Later only we realized that we need to touch the handle then door only can open, we were so malu (embarassing)!! Those customers inside the restaurant might thinking these two peoples don't know "mana kampung mari " (come from which village), hahaha!

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This was the best gyoza i had, tried few in Osaka and Kyoto restaurant, this is still the best gyoza! forgot to take inside look of this gyoza..JPY 220 for 6pcs of gyoza..

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I ordered this noodle soup, taste was ok but this noodle soup was too oily..

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My husband ordered this fried noodles, taste so so only..
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After dinner, we walked around in the Kyoto station, and realized there are many restaurants at the basement, the Porta is one of them..
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Every restaurant set up their menu with display of plastic food in front of the restaurant. Everythings just look so tempting !


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Tonkatsu look like real one..
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We bought this mochi to try out , nice to have it with a cup of green tea because it taste quite sweet..You can see this brand of mochi in many shops..
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The next morning, we took breakfast outside since hotel room did not come with breakfast and very expensive if want to take breakfast there.. We went to Porta underground and found this small and cosy cafe and had our Western breakfast.

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Before i end this post, here is a link that i want to share with you. Hyperdia , you can search for the transport route from one place to another place with various option..

Simple chocolate cupcakes


Just now my daughter requested me to make cupcakes for her to bring to orphanage house tomorrow. Her school teacher will bring them there. I have been thinking to make cupcakes for large amount because I want to try the 24-holes muffin pan that I bought from Melbourne’s trip. I was so happy to accept this order ^_^



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I like the size of this 24-holes muffin pan, mini and handy!

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I have some leftover dairy whipping cream, so i replaced milk with whipping cream and resulted a very buttery and soft butter cake! I find the cocoa aroma is not that strong, next time i might increase the cocoa powder in this recipe.

Simple chocolate cupcakes
(recipe source: by Sonia a.k.a Nasi Lemak Lover)
*makes 28 mini cupcakes


125g butter
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3 eggs (medium)
115g cake flour
20 g cocoa powder
1/2tsp double action baking powder or 1tsp baking powder
4tbsp dairy whipping cream


Chocolate rice


Method
1. Line cupcake liners on the cake pan.
2. Sift flour, cocoa powder and baking powder.
3. Beat butter and sugar till fluffy and pale.
4. Add in egg one at a time, mix well.
5. Add in flour and whipping cream alternately, combine well.
6. Spoon batter into cupcake liners, sprinkle chocolate rice on top.
7. Bake at pre-heated oven at 180C for 20mins.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Bamboo forest of Sagano 嵯峨野竹林, Kyoto Japan



Bamboo forest of Sagano 嵯峨野竹林 is one of the place that i like the most when visited Kyoto..remind me of the fight scene of the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (卧虎藏龙)..The atmosphere there is so calm and peaceful..
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We bought this nice ice-cream with 4 combination of difference flavours from this shop before enter to this forest..

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At first, i was wondered why the scene is not as nice as i seen in Alan (travellingfoodies)'s post. Later i realized that i have to walk quite deep inside to see the nice scene..

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My husband helped to take photo for these two gorgeous ladies..

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 Bamboo forest of Sagano is located at Tenryu Ji temple 岚山 天龍寺, Arashiyama Kyoto..

 
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