[Hokkaido: Noboribetsu] I went to Hell for a day. and I loved it.

Posted on by Jamie Liew

Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.

I have no idea why people call Noboribetsu the Hell Valley. it’s too beautiful to be called so. but I guess maybe because it’s filled with boiling hot water all around.

it takes less than 2 hours drive to reach Noboribetsu from New Chitose Airport and almost 3 hours from Noboribetsu to Sapporo station where we returned the car. and that’s by the free roadway. too poor to pay for toll even though it will save us about 1 hour on each trip.

노보리벳츠, 홋카이도, 일본.

이 곳의 명칭이 왜 지육인지 모르겠다. 너무 아름다워서.. 그래도 바닥속에 뜨꺼운 물은 흘려가고 있어서 지육으로 볼 수도 있겠다.

신치토세 공항에서 노보리베츠까지는 2시간도 안걸리고 (GPS예산하는것 보다 일찍 도착할것이다. GPS 계산하는 속도는 60km/hr인것 같다. 그리고 노보리벳츠에서 삿포로까지는 3시간쯤 걸렸다. 무료도로를 이용해서 유료도로보단 1시간씩 더 걸린것이다.

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but no doubt as we drove through the entrance, a hell guard greeted us. a hugeeeass hell guard. it was funny how the whole place is filled with devilish decorations and devils. D=. but yet it’s so beautifulllll. if hell is really as great as this, I don’t think anyone would mind going to hell. =X.

출구를 지나갈 때 저승사자 아저씨가 환영했네요? ㅋㅋ. 노보리벳츠 자체가 지육과 관련된 물건이나 인물으로 꾸몄고 되게 색다르다고 생각했다. 지육이 이렇게 아름다웠으면 지육 가는 사람이 좋아하시겠다 ㅎㅎㅎ. Continue reading “[Hokkaido: Noboribetsu] I went to Hell for a day. and I loved it.” →

Winter Photoshoot.

Posted on by Jamie Liew

I did multiple photoshoots during spring, summer and autumn but I had never done winter. why? well because it is VERY cold and I often travel during the season so..

this year, fellow Singaporean Dennis Abdon came to Seoul so we did a last minute shoot. without much preparation since I was going to sit for another test at that time. hahaha. anyways, here’s the pictures.

enjoy!

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#1. the most girly picture of them all! Continue reading “Winter Photoshoot.” →

Honey Butter Chips and Christmas!

Posted on by Jamie Liew

if you follow Korean news or some idols, or live in Korea, I bet you know about this recent craze over this bag of 1500won chips called the honey butter chips. how did it started becoming so famous? well I’m not sure. but one thing I’m sure of is that Calbee is doing a good job in persuading everyone to long for it by making it a sacred item at the moment.

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but is this bag of chips really something new? well no it isn’t! guess what? it was on the Japanese shelves in 2012 as a limited edition item. it somehow got to Korea and that craze over it started. I have a feeling that it is just another marketing scheme made by the Koreans but yeah, it is successful every single time. they started selling these bags of glorious chips once again in Japan and I heard it will be on shelves only until.. March. so if you’re in Japan (these chips are just sitting there on the shelves. not very popular really. the Koreans are the ones buying most of them I guess haha.) you might want to try some and see what’s all that craze about. since getting it in Korea is nearly impossible for foreigners like us. Continue reading “Honey Butter Chips and Christmas!” →

[Osaka: Tenjinbashi] Owl Cafe

Posted on by Jamie Liew

if you’re a bird person then you should have heard about how Japan’s taken over by these owl cafes. not only is owning an owl (very very expensive pet) becoming a trend, stores don’t just sell owls anymore but they are earning by letting you pet very softly on their owls and shower them with human love!

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there are quite a number of these owl cafe’s but I decided to go to the one with the MOST owls! although it’s located literally at nowhere, we were practically their last customer of their day. since it was raining cats and dogs that day, it wasn’t so full. I’ve read reviews how you have to come here and put yourself on a list (they don’t accept over the phone bookings) a few hours before you actually get a place since they limit like.. 6 or 8(?) couples of 2 in only. Continue reading “[Osaka: Tenjinbashi] Owl Cafe” →

[Seoul: Yongsan] High Tea @ Sheraton D-cube Hotel Seoul

Posted on by Jamie Liew

so not too long ago, I went to Sheraton to try that very unique looking tea set of theirs. since the.. name of the hotel is D-cube, the tea set’s pretty cubical and because it’s December, I get to order the CHRISTMAS SET!!!

I have never actually been high-tea-ing before because I am a cheapskate like that. but.. Sheraton’s prices is pretty reasonable. one glass of drink there would probably cost around 13,000won to 15,000won already but the tea set + the tea’s 17,500won. still pretty expensive I know T_T. but I guess it’s worth the experience!

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when we arrived, the place was already full and we had to wait for a place. and for just 2 of us, they gave us a 6 person seat hahaha. Continue reading “[Seoul: Yongsan] High Tea @ Sheraton D-cube Hotel Seoul” →

[Jeju Island] Seongsan Ilchulbong/Sunrise Peak 성산일출봉

Posted on by Jamie Liew

SO, I’m still on DAY 1 of my Jeju post. and I had the best experience of nature. ever.

never had I wonder something non-man-made to be so spectacular and breath taking. this place deserves its title as one of the 7 wonders of nature of the world.

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maybe I was lucky because the weather was great, but to compare the weather in Jeju and Seoul which was only 1 hour flight away, I would say that Jeju was like total paradise. not only was it much warmer, its clear blue skies and clean air was the best of it all. unlike dusty Seoul. pfft. Continue reading “[Jeju Island] Seongsan Ilchulbong/Sunrise Peak 성산일출봉” →

[Jeju Island] Hamdeok Beach 함덕해수욕장

Posted on by Jamie Liew

being here for 3 years now, I finally found time to go to Jeju Island. initially, I really wonder what’s so great about this place. people talk to me about it and I have no clue how it is like nor what the attractions and cities are called.

so a little bit about Jeju would be that this island, which I guess should be even bigger than Singapore is a volcanic island. and no, the volcano isn’t dead. plus, the reason the whole island is filled with black stones is because long long time ago, the volcano erupted and all the black stones are.. yes, lava. chances are we wouldn’t live to see the next eruption but still, come here when you can!

Jeju is so huge that travelling from side to another takes more than 2 hours. and it is divided into two sections, Jeju(제주시) and Seogwipo (서귀포시). it’s pretty weird how Jeju is longer horizontally and the island is divided by a horizontal line as well.

so what’s famous here? nature. Jeju-do (do = island) is itself a natural world heritage site, making it a must-visit for many foreigners. it is famous for it’s black porous stones (you can also buy it and use it as scrub haha) and the awesome weather. the same sunny weather in Jeju is two times prettier than the sunny weather in Seoul. I don’t know why either. and the air.. it’s just so fresh.

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DAY 1: since I only had 2 long days (sucks to be a student haha) to spend here, I prioritized the places I want to go to the most. I actually went to almost all the places I wanted to go to. Continue reading “[Jeju Island] Hamdeok Beach 함덕해수욕장” →

[USJ] why you should spend Halloween in Japan.

Posted on by Jamie Liew

so for Halloween this year, I fortunately followed my friends to Universal Studios Japan and I am glad I spent my Halloween in Japan. I was never too interested in going clubbing dressing like a zombie or vampire or something but this time, I have to say, I REALLY enjoyed myself.

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so on the way to USJ, I ran into IRONMAN! and Pepper. his arm and leg gear was so good he deserves a trophy really. and the girl’s hair was so…….. glam. I am pretty sure she dyed her hair for this special occasion! Continue reading “[USJ] why you should spend Halloween in Japan.” →