Life Roaming

“We live in a world where there is more and more information, and less and less meaning.” - Jean Baudrillard

[liferoaming]

My Favourite Films: Part III

11. 500 Days Of Summer

““There is no such thing as love, it’s a fantasy.”

Joseph Gordon-Levitt might be one of my favourite actors after Heath Ledger and Leonardo DiCaprio. A film about a woman that pursues an affair with a guy at work that tests authenticity of a fling while the other falls deeply for the other. With its unpredictable storyline and the experience of anxiety one feels when they are in a new relationship, it really questions whether one’s experience was ever authentic?

12. Lolita

“Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta. She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita.”

First of all, I apologise for such a long quote but I feel it supports the story in all of its glory. I have read Vladimir Nabokov’s book at least twice and I felt the film did it justice. Humbert Humbert grooms you as the audience to believe what he does is normality, that it is love, and that his longing to pursue the affair is acceptable...but in all seriousness Dolores (Lolita) is just a child. There is nothing more shockingly beautiful and disturbing than this film with superb performances from Dominique Swain and Jeremy Irons. Please watch it and make your own judgement.

13. Betty Blue

“I waited ages for a meaning in life”

A beautiful French film about a woman that is mentally unwell and falls in love with a handyman. I actually watched this with my parents and remember my father stating that it was a “very good film”. Betty’s fiery temperament attracts Zorg and their electricity is easily viewed on screen. It is both beautiful and heartbreaking as you watch her disintegrate into a shadow of her former self. A must watch film that will touch your soul.

14. Blue Is The Warmest Colour

"I have infinite tenderness for you, and I will my whole life..."

Another French film with a great soundtrack, especially the song “I Follow Rivers” by Lykke Li. The film explores vulnerability and our inquiry into our sexuality. Adele Exarchopoulos is absolutely stunning, she gives a an outstanding performance although unsettling at times to watch. Do we make mistakes until it’s too late?

15.Candy

"Oh right, like I held a gun to your head, did I? Held you down and hit you up did I?"

A film that touches my heart. The late Heath Ledger gives an outstanding performance with Abbie Cornish about drug addiction. You experience the highs and lows of what it is like to be an addict, the pressure your partner places on you to find the next hit with heartbreaking consequences.

[liferoaming]

For My Father: Losing A Parent During A Global Pandemic...On The Other Side Of The World.

During the weeks leading up to my father’s death, I searched endlessly for articles or blog entries on losing a parent during a global pandemic when living abroad. I never found anything. I was just looking for that connection to help me cope, or having something to help me understand what I was supposed to feel.

I feel that I needed to write this blog entry to find my way to come to terms with the sadness, the loneliness and the goodbye that I never had.

I am currently supposed to be in Dalat. It was my reward for the constant hard work from teaching without a break, the year I have been through and the sleep deprivation I have endlessly experienced. However, Ho Chi Minh City is currently on lockdown and it isn’t safe to travel. I decided to stay in HCMC over the Têt holiday, without getting that break we all so rightly deserved. Dalat was for my time to think, be alone, grieve some more and come to terms with everything that has happened in this past year.

In the weeks leading up to my father’s death, I slowly watched him deteriorate via FaceTime. Moving in and out of consciousness, when just a few weeks before he was chatting and laughing. He would always cry when he saw Yuki, he would always cry when he had to say goodbye to me. He would also cry and ask: “when will all this end?” (Meaning Covid).

My father had cancer. He had survived it before, but when it returned there was nothing more that they could do. It’s not quick...it’s slow. It takes a long time, he deteriorated, could no longer open his eyes or even take a drink.

I think it was about two weeks before my father passed that I couldn’t watch him anymore on FaceTime. My sister would hold the phone and I would say something, I could sometimes hear a grunt but not much else towards the end.

People said, “oh why are you here? Why don’t you go home?” People live in a fantasy world. The stress of getting Covid tests, never mind the costs of flights, not knowing when I could get a return and the cost of a return flight too. The cost of quarantine when eventually re-entering Vietnam, having no pay for months possibly, giving up Yuki for months, giving up my apartment...where does all my stuff go? It isn’t that simple anymore, not during Covid times. I really wished people would stop and think before they said “oh, can’t you go home?” It isn’t an option for everyone.

So as the guilt and loneliness starts to sneak in...you find out who your friends are. Those that aren’t supportive or don’t just send a little message: “are you ok?” But then you have those friends that buy you flowers and a journal, or that friend who lives on the other side of the world and phones you every single day.

I worked all the way up to my father’s death. It’s different in Asia to the western world, I feel that you are just supposed to get on with it. Don’t expect co-workers to ask you how you are, or if you are managing, it won’t happen. I worked on the day my father was actually dying. I woke up on the Saturday morning to missed calls and found out he had passed.

I got three days compassionate leave and I was back in work. During those three days, I was extremely ill. Weak, shivering, aching. I tried to eat. I spent my days watching film after film. I would wake up in my sleep from crying. This was the toughest time for me, I felt completely alone.

My father’s funeral wasn’t until two weeks later, after Christmas. I couldn’t even get closure from it until he got put to rest. I watched his funeral via FaceTime on my phone, I couldn’t hear what the vicar was saying but I could hear the music being played. It was a short funeral but I got nothing from it...I just felt empty. The next morning I had a parent’s meeting at a school. Life goes on here.

My father’s last few months was spent in my parents bedroom. He could never leave because of Covid. He never got to see outside again, to walk around his garden or go for a ride in his car. He was a prisoner in his own home. This silent war has put us through experiences we have all never thought possible - boredom, depression, loneliness, anxiety and disconnection. This silent war has took away the dignity from those dying, it has taken away rights to how they wish to spend their last moments. This silent war has taken away life itself.

This is what it’s like to lose your parent during a pandemic on the other side of the world. No one tells you about the sleep deprivation, the waking up in the night and not being able to get back to sleep. The difficulty when trying to eat or being able to enjoy yourself. I had to hold back the tears as I would try to teach. Death is always hard but this was tough, really tough. I will always think of the positive times with my father but I will always have missed out on that grieving process with family. I don’t expect anyone to read this but if it helps me heal then that is all that matters.

Thank you for reading, stay safe.

[liferoaming]

My Favourite Films : II

6. The Handmaiden

“Is it stupid to love someone being someone like you? ...” I think this may be the only film that I have seen in my life with so many twists that you don’t know what the fuck is going on at some points. Directed by Chan Wook-Park, it’s inspired by the novel “Fingersmith” by Welsh writer Sarah Walters. It tells the story of a pickpocket and a con man that plot to seduce a Japanese heiress that lives with her dominating uncle. Sounds simple? Trust me, it’s not. You will be mesmirised and surprised throughout, not only with the storyline but the outstanding acting from the cast.

7. Shoplifters

"Do you think she chose us?" In this beautiful film, a family living on the edge of poverty in Tokyo, experience a hard life and encourage their children to shoplift in order to survive. Funny in parts, you really start to warm towards the family but when their son has an accident, truths are exposed with an unexpected twist. Both heartwarming and sad, it’s a unique storyline with an ending that many women could sympathise with.

8. Enter The Void

“

Do you remember that pact we made? We promised to never leave each other.” I have never seen a film made in this style. You watch with a human eye view as the main character, Oscar, shuffles through Tokyo while living his life as a drug addict. Casually smoking DMT, you get to experience the trip with him. Extremely psychedelic and beautiful but when Oscar is killed by police, you travel on his journey through his life.

9. The Florida Project

“I can always tell when adults are about to cry.” A young single mum and her daughter, Moonee, experience poverty whilst living in a motel in Orlando, Florida. Moonee and her best friend try to escape the boredom of being poor by creating their own adventures which can lead them to dangers unbeknown to their childhood innocence. The motel manager constantly tries to prevent such dangers happening. Personally, I never warmed to Moonee’s mother, I don’t think you are meant to do and you will see why when you watch the film.

10. Christiane F “We Children from Bahnhof Zoo”

“It seemed like she could be anything she wanted, but she didn’t want to be anything.” A German film based on a true story, follows a teenage girl with a love for David Bowie and heroin. She turns to prostitution to fund her heroin addiction. The film is extremely disturbing in parts and can be difficult to watch for some viewers but it is an eye opener for those that want to understand addiction and to go on the journey with this poor hopeless girl.

[liferoaming]

My Favourite Films

It’s been a year since I have posted on my blog. After coming out of a toxic eight year relationship, moving four times, ending up in a Covid Camp and losing my father to cancer, I can honestly say this has been the most stressful year of my life.

What has helped me through? I have to say that it is films.

They can be beautiful, they can offer escapism but also realism. At the same time, they provide hope and a connection.

Since most of the world is in lockdown, I thought that I would make a list of films that are my favourite that can also help you through these tough times. I hope that you watch them and they offer the same kind of journey they have given me.

1. Lost In Translation

“Let’s never come here again because it will never be as much fun.”

My all time favourite film. No sex, no swearing, no violence...just pure beauty throughout. Directed by Sofia Coppola (The Virgin Suicides), this is a film about loneliness and questioning life during the early stages and older stages of adulthood. It follows Charlotte, a wife of a famous photographer and Bob who is a famous actor, during their time in Tokyo. They find a connection with each other as they question the path they are on, realising that they are both stuck. It offers humour and beauty, with a stunning soundtrack and an ending that you will think about for days after.

2. A Sun

“He visited me too.”

This Taiwanese film, made for Netflix, is directed by Chung Mong-hong. A film about regret and forgiveness, as it shows two life changing decisions made by a father’s two sons. Outstanding performances and breathtaking cinematography, this will take you on a journey about family dynamics with an unexpected twist.

3. Us And Them

“We have everything in the end, just not each other.”

A Chinese film directed Taiwanese singer-actress, Rene Liu. The story provides a journey into China’s coffin housing. The film follows a couples timeline of their relationship whilst facing economic doom. Filmed in black and white but also colour scenes, the film paces between past and present. You will need tissues for this film because it is a frustrating watch as the story shows their struggle for trying to make their love last through the strains of poverty.

4. Burning

“The morality of nature is like simultaneous nature...” If you have ever experienced social class anxiety or wish to understand how it feels, then this is the film for you. A psychological thriller with an unexpected, yet shocking ending. Directed by Lee Chang-song, the film tells the story of Jong-soo who runs his father’s farm. Jong-soo runs into an old school friend, Hae-mi and they start a relationship. Hae-mi takes a trip to Africa and returns with a male friend, Ben, who is confident and successful but has an unusual hobby. Only the hobby is actually a metaphor much darker than you could imagine. You can view Jong-soo’s lack of confidence and his inability to interact amongst the high earners, showing the isolation that most people these days experience. The North Korean radio shows fragmented youth, living on the edge of possible conflict and being unsure of the future. During the film Hae-mi goes missing and Jong-soo becomes suspicious and starts to investigate her whereabouts. The film although slow paced but slowly builds up, offers stunning cinematography which will have you gripped without giving too much away to its audience.

5. Imperial Dreams

“In the hood you carry truth in your heart while reality stays stashed outside...”. John Boyega gives an outstanding performance in this hard hitting Netflix film of a gangster that wants to change his path in life. With the system against him and being in debt to the state, it gives you the insight of how difficult it is for African-Americans that want to break away crime and life in the projects when everything you do is a constant struggle as the local police are always around the corner, waiting to arrest you. This beautiful and emotionally story offers hope and honesty as Bambi (John Boyega), continues to do everything the “right way”, even though everything is against him.

*I will keep continuing to update my list, please keep checking! Thank you*

[liferoaming]

Singapore

A futuristic country full of beauty, its  here that  you can find a country like no other. Ever since David Attenborough talked about this small country in his documentary, ‘Urban Wild’, I have always wanted to pay a visit.

Singapore is the most eco-friendliest country in all of Asia after establishing the Green Plan in 1992. The country is immaculate, full of stunning greenery and breathtaking architecture.

After becoming newly single, I needed to do something for myself. I love travelling, there is nothing better than visiting the unknown and discovering a new culture.  I decided to spend four days in Singapore, staying at a hostel in Chinatown. I stayed at the hostel, ‘Beary! Best’,  in an female only dormitory. When you get to my age, the last thing you want to do is share with other people because it can feel like returning back to being a student at university. However,  staying in a hostel is a good way to meet other people when you are travelling alone. It is down to the individual on what you prefer but I do recommend that you give it a go because you can also save a lot of money.

My days were jam packed with things to do, I hope this inspires you to gain courage to travel alone if you haven’t yet done so.

Day 1

It was Tet in Vietnam otherwise known as Chinese New Year elsewhere. I woke up at 4.30am due to lack of taxis and heavy queues at the airport because my flight was at 9am. If you are travelling during this time then please make sure you allow enough time. 

When you are arrive at Changi Airport , make sure to check out the Jewel Changi, this holds the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. 

The subway is very easy to use and I did not find it to be overcrowded like other cities such as Tokyo and London. The trains are air conditioned, smooth and clean as they are regularly patrolled by the police. Make sure you get a visitor pass which is $30 (SG dollars) for three days, you can then top up afterwards. Make sure you return the pass also because you get a refund back of $10.

Due to it being Chinese New Year, I stayed in Chinatown after settling into the hostel. I met up with another traveler off the Singapore Backpack Group on Facebook. We found a restaurant that had some vegetarian Chinese dishes, she had some dumplings and I had some fried tofu with noodles. Not all Chinese restaurants have vegetarian dishes but it is possible as we found out.

Chinatown was packed and the smell of durian was everywhere and I am sorry guys, the smell still makes me gag. If you are sensitive to the smell of durian, then please be aware of this when travelling around.

After dinner, we had a walk around but because the other traveler’s hostel was on the other side of town, she decided to leave early to beat the crowds when getting home.

I waited around on New Bridge Road whilst a television show was being filmed, waiting patiently for the fireworks at midnight. It was good for a while but as I became more aware that around me were couples, families or people with their friends it was then that I felt lonely. However, it was the only time I felt lonely during the trip.

The fireworks took place at midnight and it was worth it, if you are travelling at this time then its a great celebration to be a part of because you get to experience it with the locals and other international visitors.

Day 2

Singapore is very small and it is very easy to get around.I managed to do a lot on the second day! 

Fort Canning was a beautiful park with a spectacular view of the sky scrapers when you reach the hilltop. It was part of the British Army Barracks, it is here than you can view such landmarks as ‘The Gate of Fort Canning’ and the ‘Old Soldiers Marriage Quarters’. It is peaceful and a lovely place to take in the calm of the morning sun. Admission is free.

You can walk from Fort Caning to Marina Bay Sands but be sure to check out Old  Hill Street Police Station on your way. Tracing back to 1819, it is one of Singapore’s oldest governmental buildings. 

Marina Bay  is the WOW factor of Singapore! The view of Marina Bay is stunning and there are many things to do within this area. Be sure to check out the Merlion of Singapore, Esplanade Theatre and take a walk along the Helix Bridge. On the other side of the Marina Bay Sands, you can find the ‘Gardens by The Bay’, I will discuss this later on. Please return to Marina Bay in the evening for the fireworks show!

Botanical Gardens was founded in 1859 and is home to a rain forest and even an orchid garden. My favourite area of the Botanical Gardens was Ethnobotany Garden, containing stingless bees, turtles and Malayan water lizards that roam freely.

Haji Lane is known for its graffiti, trendy shops and cool bars. This is definitely a hipster area which is great to drop by and do some shopping or chill out at a bar.

If you are are vegan (or vegetarian) like me, then you might have also found it difficult to find plant based Korean food. I have been craving to try Korean food for a long time but it is impossible to find plant based Korean food in Vietnam. However, in Singapore you can! Check out Boneless Kitchen, for just $9 I had a mushroom ramen which was delicious although could’ve had been spicier. It was packed with noodles, mushrooms, tofu, vegan pork, Korean dumplings vegan sausages and cheese. It was absolutely delicious and I highly recommend you visit during your stay.

Day Three

Sentosa Island is that artificial place that you are not too sure you want to visit...but you do. Home to Universal Studios and other attactions, I went there to visit the man made beach. Palawan Beach can be reached by the sky train and a ten minute walk. The beach is immaculate and you can walk across a suspension bridge where you can visit the outlook towers. It is a great way to spend the day relaxing, having a swim in the water and topping up your tan.

If you love Japanese food, like me, then look no further than Herbivore. This vegan restaurant has the most amazing dishes. This is a time when I would have liked someone with me because I could have shared some dishes. However, the katsu bento was just perfect. Katsu curry with vegetables, rice and a seitan cutlet accompanied with a salad, miso soup and lychee jelly. The dish cost around $19.

Gardens by the Bay is a wonderful place to visit and is probably the highlight of my visit. It is here that you can view the Super Trees, art sculptures, the cloud forest and the flower dome. You can get lost in the magic here..

Day Four

On this day I visited Little India but I did not stay for long. I think it might have been the only time that I felt a little uncomfortable in Singapore and it might be better to travel with someone else to this area. It is a great place if you want to buy beautiful material and eat some Indian food.

I visited the Bugis Centre to do a little shopping. I bought a boxy shirt and some shorts from UNIQLO for just $30 (SG Dollars). I ate at the Green Dot for some tradtional vegan Laska, however, it was carb heavy much like the majority of Asia. I always find rice and noodles too heavy to eat in the heat and ended up just eating the vegan prawns, fish balls and pork along with the soup. The dish cost $9.

In the evening, I ate at a vegetarian Taiwanese restaurant but I am unsure of the name. I had a three course meal that consisted of tomato and carrot soup, some truffle bake followed by a lava cake served with cider to drink. This meal was the most expensive costing $33.

After this, I visited the light show in Gardens by the Bay. The light show takes place at the super trees and it was pretty spectacular to watch, I highly recommend it and it also free for admission.

Flight: $160 (SG Dollars) , GBP91.00 

Travel: $30 (SG Dollars) , GBP16.00

Hostel: $113 (SG Dollars) , GBP63.00

Travel money: $260 (SG Dollars) , GBP150.00

Total for the trip: $565 (SG Dollars), GBP316.00 

[liferoaming]

Kyoto

Kyoto is known for the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine and being the heart of the geisha world. After arriving early on a humid morning from Hiroshima, we explored the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine. One of the world’s most famous shrines that is painted tangerine orange and trails for four kilometres. We managed to walk half way and that was enough. If you wish to climb the entire mountain of steps, it will take you around two hours. 

Be sure to download the translate app beforehand because if you have ever wondered what the writing is on the shrine, then you will be amazed to know that it is not some ancient holy script but they are in fact advertisements.

The geisha district is wonderful, be sure to visit the Nanzenji temple (as seen in Lost In Translation), or skip across the pond at the Heian Shrine (another famous location in the movie).

If you are lucky, then you might get to see a geisha...

I did actually see a geisha waiting patiently in a car, but it was just a glimpse. Maybe I should have waited around until she stepped out of the car. I kind of regret it now.

Make sure that you make a trip to ING Rocking Bar, this cool little bar is run by a rocker who knows his music. Reasonably priced drinks for Japan and he is happy to play anything that you want. He is one cool dude.

[liferoaming]

Hiroshima

Once again, from Osaka, you can take the bullet train to Hiroshima. This will take around two hours and twenty minutes, offering another scenic delight as you travel through Japan at  320 km/h (200 mph).

Hiroshima turned out to be my favourite city, after Tokyo, of course. It has been seventy four years after America dropped the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima but the peace and beauty that this city has become is an experience of no other place on earth.

We visited the dome where the bomb hit. I always find it disrespectful and also rather weird when people take photos of sites that are the outcome of devastation. The bomb wiped out ninety percent of the city’s population, it was more than a disaster, it was the epitome of evilness. Walking around Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Museum was hard. Everything related to war is always difficult to stomach and yes, I cried. How could you not? All this suffering and for what? The museum showed drawings from witnesses that were involved in the attack alongside stories of witnessed account. These drawings and witness accounts I find to be  more poignant than pictures of suffering because these accounts come from how the witnesses felt. You can’t understand that from a photograph, just the view of intense suffering. In all of this evilness,the Japanese have  found peace and have forgivenEd’s. They have taken something so horrific and made the surrounding areas of the dome into the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park, that we walked around afterwards while having a cry. Japan wants the world to learn from this because they don’t want it to happen again.

We stayed in the Hotel Park Side which is just by the Hiroshima Memorial Park and we witnessed the most breath taking sunset here. Pinks and violets are my favourite kind of sky.

Hiroshima has a really cool, laid back trendy vibe. It almost reminds me of SoHo area in New York City. We visited the Tropical Bar  Revolución, this micro bar has a cool balcony that you can look out onto the city. Cocktails are quite reasonably priced compared to other bars in Japan.

My highlight of Hiroshima? Taking the boat to  Itsukushima,otherwise known as  Miyajima,a small island in Hiroshima Bay. You will get to see the famous Great Torii Gate but unfortunately when we visited there was construction work being done and the tide was out, not exactly the scenic look we were hoping to see. However, the island itself is absolutely beautiful. Once again, you will see deers walking around the island or lazing around under the shades of the trees or shop entrances. Be sure to grab a deer beer and try some local dishes! 

During my trip to Itsukushima, I developed the most intense migraine that led me to be in tears. I took some painkillers but some kiosk workers that spotted me, came running with ice packs and a bag for me to be sick in. They kept checking that  I was okay and kept giving me ice packs. They showed such kindness and I am so grateful for this, especially as the ice packs helped and my migraine subsided. Please make sure that you rest and take plenty of fluids during the summer, heat stroke is really dangerous and as a visitor you want to see as much as possible but please take your time and be aware of how you are feeling. Don’t ignore it.

I would like to say though that  Hiroshima definitely left an impact on me and I will happily return to this beautiful city, I just wish I had longer to see more.

[liferoaming]

Osaka

Riding the bullet train from Tokyo was a breeze. The trains arrive on time, the ride was smooth with the most amazing leg room that I have ever seen. Please be aware that there is no WiFi available on board but the scenery is wonderful along the way. Make sure that you buy your Japan rail pass before you leave Japan and have the tickets sent to your place of address, you will save lots of money this way because you can not buy it once you are in Japan. The train from Tokyo to Osaka will take around three hours.

I must admit that when I arrived in Osaka, I did not immediately love it. I found it to be more overwhelming than Tokyo because the areas of entertainment were much more condense.

Dotonbori is the main street to visit, here you will find an incredible over lit canal that is jam packed with shops, arcades, restaurants, cafes, bars and even the famous Ebisu Tower which is worth a ride to see the views of Osaka.

Osaka is famous for Okonomiyaki, this is a savory pancake that is filled with noodles, cheese and choice of filling. It is cooked on a griddle at your table and is topped with mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce. There are many restaurants that offer this and they will be easy to find all around Osaka.

When you are in Osaka, make sure that you check out the bar ‘Cherry Bomb’. The micro rock bar is a up a flight of stairs and has a range of cocktails and pale ale available. The bar plays some cool music, has computer games available to play. Be ready to have interesting chats with the bar staff and customers visiting the bar. We had a great night here and I highly recommend it.

We were only in Osaka for two nights, I suggest that  you must plan your trip carefully because you do not want to waste any time on your visit. We decided on visiting Osaka Castle and Nara during our trip but there are many other places to visit during your time here.

Nara Park

Nara was definitely one of my highlights. This beautiful national park is surrounded by scenic views of mountains, ponds, greenery and deers. Nara Park is a full day of walking around, stroking, feeding and talking to the beautiful deers. They are famous for bowing when you bow, although I did not do this. There are rules in place on how to treat and respect the deers, please obey these rules because the Japanese are really respectful of Nara Park and the deers because they are seen as a national treasure.  Nara Park is free to enter and you can get the bus from the JR  Nara Station to Nara Park, this will take around eighteen minutes. 

Make sure you make a visit to the  Kasuga Taisha Shrine,there is an entrance fee to the shrine, this is around five hundred yen. However, we did not enter the shrine because we found the walk around Nara Park to be enough for us but you can see the shrine from the outside to see the enormity and beauty.

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle was beautiful to see and the surroundings were just as gorgeous. The entrance fee was around six hundred yen. Once inside the castle, we discovered that it was an actual museum, rather than the inside structure of the castle but the view from the top was worth it. The grounds has a beautiful lake and a park area which is perfect to sit down under a shaded area to relax.  If you show your JR pass upon entering, they will let you jump the large queue!

[liferoaming]

Akihabara

Do you like all technology, computer games and anime? Then Akihabara, otherwise known as ‘Electric Town’, is your place to go! Just thirty minutes via the metro from Shinjuku, you will be in sensory overload when you walk around this area.

We visited the Sega Akihabrara virtual reality centre. My partner absolutely loved it but I feel that there are better VR centres elsewhere if you do your research properly. There was a VR centre in Shinjuku with amazing reviews but it has unfortunately been knocked down. At the Sega VR centre in Electric Town, there were around seven different virtual reality games to play. I was mostly interested in the car racing game but for some reason my legs would not fit. I stand at five foot and eleven inches tall, my boyfriend stands at six four tall but yet he managed to fit into the car. My grandmother used to joke that women in our family are ‘all legs, no trunk’, I guess this rings true. I felt absolutely gutted and embarrassed as the assistant kept shouting on her microphone, “wow...you don’t fit...wow...you are so tall!” Yep, thanks love. The other virtual reality games were quite good. They had the usual VR roller coaster, a couple of sword fighting games, a balancing game, a free fall ride (we did not ride this) and then our favourite...an alien game. The alien game was a virtual world of a journalist (you) working on their iPad, your boss gives you a mission to take as many of exciting photographs of aliens as possible for the newspaper. You then go onto your mission and aliens would randomly appear suddenly in front of you. This was great fun and felt quite realistic in a sci-fi kinda way.

 The entrance  fee was twenty five pounds each and this included unlimited experiences on the VR games, unlimited soft drinks for one and a half hours to explore the centre.

You will find all of the anime that you can ever find in Akihabara. Millions and millions of figures, books, magazines, badges, games and claw machines. I actually bought two figures, one in Tokyo and the other one in Hiroshima, just for aesthetic, of course. Be sure to check out the comics, you can get everything from kawaii anime to porn anime...yep, really. Be ready to experience a brand new world.

If you are into arcade games, then you are going to be overwhelmed because electric town is worth a  full evening of fun (or most of the daytime). The cutest anime games are available for you to explore or you could just enjoy watching random locals play the games. I particularly enjoyed playing the musical games and anime, although it felt surreal at times. I would recommend just getting lost in the environment because you will not experience anything like this elsewhere.

If you still have energy after all that and some money left for some shopping then you will find everything you need in this area from toilet seats to curling tongues.If it’s gaming equipment, consoles and games that you want then look no further than Super Potato for all your needs! The mecca store of all your gaming needs, past and present.

While you are visiting Akihabara, please make sure you try a Taiyaki. These kawaii fish doughnut comes in many different flavours. The typical Taiyaki is filled with  red bean paste that is made from sweetened azuki beans.However, you can get different flavours such as custard or chocolate. 

[liferoaming]

Roppongi

The sky train into Roppongi is an exciting trip in itself, especially as it’s a great way to see Rainbow Bridge. Roppongi is actually based in the Minato perfecture of Tokyo and takes about forty minutes to get from Shinjuku.

Why go here? It is actually a fantastic entertainment district, not just for Roppongi but surrounding areas. You can visit everything from a car racing track, a shopping centre for dogs (yes, really!) and for the reason we went there, which is for the teamLab Borderless museum (based in Odaiba, across the river from Roppongi).

We paid for our tickets online, costing around twenty six pounds each. The queue was gigantic and not ideal in the heat, however it moved quite quickly and we were inside within thirty minutes. The concept of the museum is to view imaginary worlds, nature and space through digital lights. As a visitor, you are supposed to get lost and move through the worlds, visiting the different worlds more than once because they are forever changing. It was an absolutely wonderful experience and was definitely a first for me to experience anything like this. Along with the music and the forever changing beautiful lighting, it felt peaceful and a nice change from the busy city. It was an highlight for Tokyo and I would highly recommend you visiting there.

After the light museum, we had a wander around the area. We couldn’t resist looking at the shopping centre for dogs! This is opposite the car factory. If you have dogs then I highly recommend that you visit there. Shops after shops of doggy heaven, selling everything that you could ever want for your pooch. You will also get to meet some cute pups too because the Japanese definitely see their dogs as part of their family. You will find that their dogs will be dressed up and often have a little stroller available if they are to get tired. It is absolutely adorable to see!

I must also point out that while you are in Odaiba, you must ride the ferris wheel (based at the side of teamLab). If you time it correctly, just like we did, you can see the sunset over Tokyo and its pure bliss.

Tokyo Tower is also based in the Minato perfecture and is the second tallest structure in Japan. The tower is actually very much like the Eiffel tower. For around seven pounds each, we went up the tower. I would like to suggest that you visit here at night. Not only will you get to see the tower lit up but you will also be able to see the infinite of lights from what Tokyo has to offer.

If you are feeling hungry after this, there is a Coco Ichibanya in walking distance (around fifteen minutes) for an amazing vegetable katsu curry (my favourite!), there are also meat dishes available too. If you like your curry medium spicy, then I recommend going for a level three or four. Tanoshi!

[liferoaming]

Harajuku

Harajuku was one of the areas that I was really excited about, otherwise known as the fashion district. Like most of the other areas, it is also extremely busy but you can find peace and solitude in the park nearby. 

Yoyogi Park, although technically in Shibuya, is only across the road from the fashionista madness and is one of the city’s largest parks. It is a good place to cool down under the large trees from the extreme heat.

Harajuku, as you can guess already is a fashion paradise. Takeshita Street runs all the way from metro station and onto the other side of the main road. It is jammed packed with boutiques, cute little doughnut shops and ice cream parlours, vintage stores, sunglasses stores, stores for dogs...it basically has everything you need.

To be honest, I was rather overwhelmed and did not actually buy any clothes during my trip to Japan. It was too hot and there was too much to take in. In the end, we popped into a Family Mart, bought some snacks and a ice cold fizzy drink. We sat on a bench and just watched people go by because you will not see fashion like it anywhere else. Everything and anything goes, from the Lolita style, Gothic, Fairy Kei and  even Decora. There is plenty to keep your eyes entertained for hours. There is definitely the old meets new of traditional culture and popular culture that makes Tokyo so vibrant.

Just a note about eating and drinking on the streets. It is frowned upon to walk around eating and drinking (including smoking), there are designated areas where you can go but the Japanese are extremely clean and are eco-friendly. Make sure you put your rubbish in the correct bin for recycling and respect their culture.

[liferoaming]

Shibuya

“But if Hachiko wants to wait, then Hachiko should wait.”

Hachiko, would come to meet his human companion for ten years after his death at Shibuya Station in Tokyo. A life long friend until the end. Through my attachment to animals, I found it quite emotional to meet the statue of Hachiko, standing so proud in the garden outside Shibuya Station. The walls are even lined with a beautiful mosaic of Hachi, his forever memory dancing around Rainbow Bridge.

Once you have managed to get over admiring the shrine to Hachiko, you can be amazed by Shibuya crossing. I highly recommend you go there at night, to explore it,  in all its entirety. I understand, it’s just a crossing...but! If your favourite film is  ‘Lost In Translation’ too, then you will have an understanding how iconic the crossing is. After all, it’s also the busiest intersection in the world. The lights, the sounds, the gigantic screens, the puzzling mixture of international language as you walk across not just once, or twice, but probably at least three times. Take it all in and live in that moment because an intersection won’t ever be as exciting again.

What can you do in Shibuya? Well, the obvious - shop, drink, eat and people watch. Make sure you visit ‘Drunkyards Alley’, or otherwise known in Japanese as; Nonbei Yokocho. I highly recommend the micro bar, ‘Tight’, it will fit about five people, maybe seven if you are lucky. Drinks are expensive but it’s good for one or two and it’s a nice way to get chatting with the locals or other travelers. 

There is also a good bar that sells excellent IPAs known as ‘Goodbeer Faucets’, also quite expensive but sometimes it’s nice to have a beer and watch the people of Tokyo walk on by. There is also a great place for food nearby but I can not actually remember the name of it, once I know then I will update my blog. Basically, when you come out of the pub, you can see a big building with lots of restaurant advertisements. Inside the building are floors of different restaurants! The ambience inside of there is amazing. The hustle and bustle is typical of Tokyo and everyone seems to be having a great time, even the staff. We had sake, tempura and fries which were all totally delicious and actually quite reasonably priced. I think the total came to about twenty pounds which is good for an evening meal in a major city like Tokyo. The portions were big and filling too, plus the tempura had a great selection that you could chose from.

Ruby Room is also a great bar/club to check out, it is small and cramped, plus there is a cover charge (this is quite normal in Tokyo) but you do get two alcohol drinks once inside. We went on a night where locals and expats played their songs and the audience swayed to the music.

Shibuya is definitely one of my highlights in Tokyo. You would be a fool to not strut across the crossroad of Shibuya.

[liferoaming]

Tokyo, Japan

“Let’s never come here again because it would never be as much fun”.

Tokyo, what can I say? It has been about twenty four years since I first found out properly about Japan. I remember my geography teacher showing us pictures of Mount Fuji, the lit up streets and mouth watering culinary delights and I knew then that I had to visit.

It was always on my bucket list and even now, post trip, I can’t believe that I have spent two weeks exploring this beautiful country. Even on the count down towards jetting off on our adventure, I had to keep pinching myself  as a reminder,that I was still within my actual body.

If you are flying to Japan, you must do the whole Japanese experience and fly with Japan Airlines. Great legroom, comfy seats but the food was not so good. The flight was overnight and if you can,then sleep. However, we could not and we were not allow to check in until 3 pm. It made us feel a little disorientated. 

We stayed for eight nights in the  APA Hotel Nihombashi Bakurocho-Ekimae, this cost around three hundred pounds. The hotel rooms are small but this is typical of Tokyo’s micro living. The area was quiet, near supermarkets and some cafes. The metro was nearby and it was only one stop to get to Shinjuku.

It has been a year since we have been in a major, developed city and you can not compare this city to Manchester anyway. Tokyo, is pristine...you may see an odd piece of paper on the floor but it is rare. What I came to notice straight away is that people wait. Yes, they actually queue, just like the British. They love it too. I have not experienced queuing like it since England. The mannerism of the Japanese show such grace and decorum like no other, their gentleness and kindness is always apparent. I shall explain why this is so throughout my post entries.

We went to Tokyo in July/August. Now, Vietnam is hot but Japan was on heat like no other place I have ever visited. The humidity is high, it is sticky and muggy, there is no breeze. If you hate this kind of weather, then maybe it is best to visit in the spring or autumn. 

Tokyo, itself,  is too big to discover in eight days. I don’t even know where to start with the discussions of my travel.

 I have decided that the best way to discuss my travels, is to list each area in a post and give you my feedback. I hope that you enjoy my blog entries and that it helps you with your travels too.

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is a very busy area. It has a large shopping mall with various boutiques and shops. There are lots of restaurants, arcades, bars and the usual things you would expect. It was not an area that particularly grabbed me. However, if you are staying near Shinjuku, then you might want to drink during happy hour at ‘The Hub’. This is a traditional style British themed pub that offers cheap drinks during their happy hour, between 5 pm and 7 pm. I would recommend drinking during happy hour because drinking in Japan is expensive! I mean, extremely expensive, it can cost about fifteen pounds for a pint and even more for a cocktail. Unless you are rich, Japan is not a place that you can afford to go and have a night out on the booze. If you are vegan or vegetarian, the best places for delicious ramen are actually at Shinjuku station. Most great restaurants are based on the undergrounds of train stations, you know they will be good because lots of people will be queuing. The two best restaurants to visit are Tan Tan’s and Saranoiro. I must also say, there is an amazing and the cutest little cafe that does a beautiful vegan Japanese set lunch. The place is called ‘Milk Land’ and has a rabbit theme throughout. You get a tray of seven different dishes all for just seven pounds. Ramen costs between seven to twelve pounds.

Shinjuku is an area that comes more alive at night, a great place to visit cafes and idol shows, if you’re into that kind of thing. We did want to make a visit to a virtual reality centre in this area that had amazing reviews but unfortunately had shut down. It is home to a large cinema, make sure you visit here to check out the little boutiques on each floor on the way up to the cinema. These boutiques stock beautiful harajuku style fashions and kawaii nik-naks such as Blythe dolls and kitsch figures, very girly indeed and sickly sweet.

Whatever you want to get from this area, there is definitely something for everyone. Whether its a coffee in the morning, while watching the rush hour traffic pass by or a doing the kitten dance at a maid cafe. Shinjuku is definitely a vibrant area with lots to do, after all, it is Tokyo. 

[liferoaming]

Yuki

You were not sure what you were supposed to do

Hoping for some love and affection

Stood by a man who ignored you

Your body and soul was broken

You had given up

I could tell by your eyes

Pitiful

Empty

Suffering

I told you I was going to take you home

Your eyes looked right up at me

I begged for you

And just like that, you were my companion for life

Dirty, shy and anxious

It took time

But your little body impresses us every day

Nothing stops you

Nothing will ever stop you

A heartbeat at my feet

A smile when you get a bone

And the most beautiful moment

As you lay your head on my chest

I cradle you

Now you know

This is love

I don’t know what happened before

But...

It feels like you have been with us forever

[liferoaming]

Phuket and the Phi Phi islands

I don’t know why but Thailand has never really appealed to me. I think that is because I have always thought of it as being a loud and seedy backpackers paradise. However, as I have got older, I have realised that Thailand consists of the world’s most beautiful beaches and scenery.

We stayed in Chalong Bay which was quiet, maybe too quiet, even for me. We stayed in a small villa, ‘Baan Mee’, which is owned by a couple. They were the most wonderful and helpful hosts, I highly recommend staying here. It is pristine and has a lovely swimming pool. It is also located close to the bay.

There wasn’t much happening around Chalong bay in terms of entertainment. I would have rather travelled around Thailand and would only spend a few days in Phuket. The beaches are beautiful and well worth exploring. They are very clean with crystal clear waters. The sunsets are also divine.

Food is reasonably priced, however, I feel that a lot of the local culture has been lost due to the westernisation of the area. Its the same with Bali. This is a shame because I don’t know how much of the food we consumed was actually authentic or has been westernised to suit our palette. This makes me think how Vietnam is still strongly enriched in their culture and the more I visit South-East Asian countries I am starting to realise how authentic Vietnam is.

Phi Phi Islands was paradise, it tops Bali for me. I haven’t been this blown away by a place in a long time. Shallow, dazzling waters and pristine beaches. The bars and restaurants are buzzing and most offer entertainment which I preferred to the quietness of Chalong Bay.

We stayed in a hut on the beach which cost just £13 per night with two beds, air conditioning and a shower. What more do you need? You can just wake up in the morning and walk right into the warm ocean, surrounding by little islands. It felt like just been part of the film, ‘The Beach’, which was filmed in a cove within the area.

We found a bar called the “Sunset Bar”, this is about a twenty minute walk from the hut but worth it. The sunset bar says exactly what it is and it is the perfect place to see that gorgeous sunset. It is even clearly stated what time the sun sets. I highly recommend this hidden gem. I really enjoyed Thailand, it’s absolutely beautiful. In fact, we could live there but we definitely did not explore enough and I felt like the trip was wasted in a lot of ways. Therefore, Thailand, we will be back!

[liferoaming]

Bali

Bali is a special place, it’s often comparared by many as paradise. Over Christmas we visited for a week and celebrated new year there.

Don’t judge us but we stayed in Seminyak. It’s a very touristy area with beautiful boutiques, gorgeous cafes and bars that come alive late at night.

We visited the beach in Seminyak and we were shocked to see all of the pollution on the beach. We were informed by staff on the beach that it gets cleaned every morning before the tourists arrive. Apparently, this usually happens at this time of the year due to the wind. Nonetheless, it’s upsetting to see how we are killing our oceans and earth with plastic waste. Even though we know waste is dumped in the oceans, this was definitely a wake up call for us. While we are on the topic of beaches, I would like to point out that there are some very beautiful beaches all around the island. The best beaches for us were Nasa Dua and Echo beach.

Now...trying not to be a Debbie Downer, I will now move onto the wonders of what Bali has to offer but before this I would like to point out something else regarding Bali. I felt really relaxed here, I think it was the multicultural aspects of it in comparison to Vietnam. The women were all shapes and sizes, for once in a long time, I wasn’t stared at. You will find that when living in Vietnam, the Vietnamese women are tiny in comparison to Westerners. Tiny as in body frame and waist. Size 0 is the norm in Vietnam. Not only this but they are very high matinence - no sun bathing, 10 step Korean skin care regime and they are very anti wrinkles. Filler and Botox is highly sought after! This isn’t a negative in any aspect whatsoever. Now, I take better care of my skin, thanks to the women of Vietnam. After all, you only get one face. My main point is, that in Bali existed women of all shapes, sizes with suntans without being stared at. It was a like of breath of fresh air, literally. It was lovely to feel relaxed within the concept of ‘not giving a damn’.

The food is amazing in Bali. If you seek places with the word ‘warung’, meaning cheap, you will find a buffet of Balinese cuisine.

We did a tour whilst in Bali around Ubud. We had lunch at Kintamani volcano, visited monkey forest, a waterfall, a temple, the paddy field and experienced some coffee sampling. It was just £70 each for the whole day, 8am until 5.30pm with a tour guide.

The best thing about Bali are the sunsets, unfortunately we only got to witness a couple because of the clouds. The colours of the sky are out of this world.

We ended the holiday celebrating at Potatohead Club, with Disclosure dj-ing and a massive firework display amongst the tropical palm trees. This rounded off our trip beautifully.

We will be back, Bali!

[liferoaming]

Working in Vietnam

I thought that I would write a post on the process of getting work in Vietnam. It isn’t an easy process and at times I found it stressful and time consuming. However, if you really want something, then you will do it.

First of all, you need a degree. You can not work legally in Vietnam without a degree. I am not saying that you won’t find work without a degree because a lot of places are willing to take you on, paying you cash in hand. I have a BA Hons and an MSc and therefore did not have the problem of finding a ‘cash in hand’ job.

Secondly, depending on what you wish to do career wise in Vietnam, you need a TEFL qualification if you wish to teach. Most places requires a TEFL with 120+ hours with some teaching experience.

You must get your degrees and TEFL notarised and legalised before leaving the U.K. You can not do this in Vietnam.

You will also need an up to date DBS check.

Depending on if you find a career opportunity before you move to Vietnam, the company will provide you with a business letter. This allows you to get a visa on arrival at the airport (multi entry is $50, you must have the correct change in the US dollars).

Once you start your job, you are required to get a work permit. The work permit states that you are legally working in Vietnam and therefore you can open a bank account (ACB is my chosen bank) and you can transfer money back to the U.K. You can also renew your visa without leaving the country (this has to be renewed every 3 months).

You also must have a health check - this includes x-ray, blood, urine and an overall check over.

You must also register with the local police station.

The work permit takes about a month to be processed.

As for work? You don’t have to take the first job you are offered. If you have the relevant qualifications then you will find a job here. When I moved here, I was going to work for APAX English. However, I discovered that it was not really teaching during my training with them. It was a very structured and rigid way of teaching English to Vietnamese children using a smart tv. I don’t think this is teaching, unless you like teaching off a script.

I went onto work for an agency, teaching classes of three to five year olds. I found this work extremely stress free and it was really enjoyable. However, due to lack of hours I went onto a third job.

This third job was at a private school, teaching English, Maths and science to grade seven, eight and nine. I loved it, however, confrontation with the agency made me question whether this was an agency to work for? If you work through an agency, they will take some of your wage and they will try to fine you for minor issues. The school wanted to employ me without the agency but because it was too far away I was unable to get there without the agency’s transportation.

Within a day of leaving, I was employed by a company . I am not naming the company as I do not wish people to kno where I work. However, this company works with public schools where parents pay collectively to be taught English, maths and science by western teachers. I love it! I teach maths and science to grade seven at various schools which is really satisfying because I get to expand my mind and inspire young minds. The money is great, there are incentives available to earn even more money and they are really helpful with getting work permits and giving information on anything that is required. I will talk more about this on another post...thank you for reading!