金沢・能楽美術館 / Kanazawa - Noh Museum

数ヶ月前の日本旅行に金沢へ行って来ました。それで「能楽」の世界はもっと理解できます。（実はね、金沢の「能楽美術館」へ行って来ました。）
During my Japan trip a few months back, I managed to visit 'Kanazawa'. I have also learned more about the world of 'Noh' as I was visiting the 'Noh museum' over there.

その美術館の一階は「能楽」の様々な知識が習えます。 One can learn more about the various actions, expressions, etc of 'Noh', through the displays on the 1st floor.

「能面」の制作工程をもっと理解できます。 全ての制作過程は機器を利用せずに、 職人は様々な工具を用いて、能面を怠らず製作していました。 （その上、能面の制作工程は数週間以上の時間が必要です。Σ(ﾟДﾟ；ｴｰｯ!） Can also understand the process of making a 'Noh' mask. I'm pretty impress with the whole process, especially when every single detail requires careful labour work and not machinery. (Therefore, more than several weeks of labour work will be required in making one 'Noh' mask only. =.=""")

様々な能面を見て、触れます。 You can also take a closer look at the 'Noh' mask over here. You can also touch it, but do be careful.

そして、能楽師の感覚を体験できます。 （僕は般若の能面や能装束を着ていました。） You can also experience the life of being a 'Noh' performer over here. (I have given it a try by putting on the clothes of a 'Noh' performer and the 'Noh' mask, 'Hannya', which represents a jealous female demon or serpent in the world of 'Noh'. By the way, most of the 'Noh' performers back then were mostly guys.)

美術館の二階のメイン展示室では、様々な貴重な能装束や能面を展示して、金沢と能楽文化の歴史を紹介していました。隣の室では、能楽の映像を観賞だし、絵本を読めます。三階は研修室です。「能楽美術館」のサイトにもっと詳しい資料があります。
There's a exhibition hall on the second floor where some of the valuable assets of 'Noh' were put on display. It also provide a brief introduction of the history of 'Kanazawa' and 'Noh'. Next to the exhibition hall would be a corner where you can watch videos on 'Noh' and read books on 'Noh' too. As for the third floor, there's a classroom set aside for participants that are interested in gaining in depth knowledge of 'Noh'.

(以下の写真をクリックすると他の写真が見られます。) (Click the following images for more photos.)

受付時間：

• 10:00～17:00

Opening Hours:

• 10:00am - 17:00pm

* これは金沢の「能楽美術館」のサイトです。
* Click here for the official website of the Noh Museum in Kanazawa, Japan.

馬のラーメン？ / Ramen for a horse?

もし間違っていなかったら、今年はシンガポールにラーメンを食べていませんでした。だから、先週末新しいラーメン屋へラーメンを食べに行きました。
If I'm not mistaken, I have not eaten a bowl of Japanese Ramen ever since I have returned from my trip to Japan. Therefore, I have decided to give one of the newer Japanese Ramen Shop a try last weekend.

「あじたまうまラーメン」 さすがに「最高濃厚」のラーメンです。 そのラーメンのスープが濃過ぎるし、そんなに鹹くないです。 スープ以外、そのラーメンに細い面、筍、チャーシュー、 味付け玉子、葱など様々な材料を入れて、とても美味いです。 （その上、僕は細い面が大好きです。） しかし、チャーシューが美味いけど、サイズが大きくないです。 全然満足じゃないです。残念です。 'Ajitama Uma Ramen' The Ramen has indeed lives up to its reputation of being a 'Saikou Noukou' Ramen. ('Saikou Noukou' means super rich in Japanese.) The soup of the Ramen were super rich and at the same time not too salty. Besides for the soup, the delicious bowl of Ramen also comes with ingredients like the thinner type of noodles, bamboo shoots, roasted pork fillet, flavoured egg and spring onions, etc. (As for myself, I love Ramen that comes with the thinner type of noodles.) However, although the taste of the roasted pork fillet are pretty good, but the size of it can be rather disappointing. It's simply not big enough to satisfy all my taste buds.

その上、そのラーメンの味付け玉子のレベルがとても高いです。 外が茶色で中の白身、黄身が半熟だし、味が完璧です。 (・∀・)ﾁｺﾞｲﾈ!です(≧∇≦)b Furthermore, the standard of the flavoured egg that comes with the Ramen is pretty high. The brown coloured egg is covered with white colour on the inside and the egg yolk is half boiled and the taste of it is perfect. This is simply too amazing.

全てを食べた後の「完食感謝」です。 Thanks for finishing everything.

「ばり嗎の精神」 The Spirit of 'Bari-Uma'.

そのラーメン屋の名前は「ばり嗎ラーメン」です。 住所は「Tanglin Shopping Centre」というデパートの地下一階です。 The name of this Japanese Ramen shop would be 'Bari Uma Ramen'. It's located on basement 1 of 'Tanglin Shopping Centre'.

営業時間：

• 11:30～22:00

Operating Hours:

• 11:30am - 10:00pm

* これは「ばり嗎ラーメン」のFacebookページです。
^ こちは日本の「ばり嗎ラーメン」の資料です。
~ これは「Tanglin Shopping Centre」というデパートの資料です。（英語のサイト）
* Click here for the Facebook page of 'Bari Uma Ramen' Singapore.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Bari Uma Ramen' Japan. (Japanese website)
~ Click here to find out more about 'Tanglin Shopping Centre'.

シンガポールの「大戸屋」 / Ootoya in Singapore

数週間前に、突然、豚カツと牡蠣を食べたいです。だから、「Orchard Central」というデパートへ行きました。しかし、その日は水曜日です。だから、「とん吉」の外で、長い待ち行列があります。結局、他の和食レストランに和食を食べに行きました。以下は僕の晩御飯です。
A few weeks ago, I suddenly have the urge for Japanese Katsu and Oysters. Therefore, I decided to make the trip down to 'Orchard Central'. However, that's a Wednesday and due to the promotion at 'Tonkichi' every Wednesday, the queue outside 'Tonkichi' every Wednesday will always ended up to be pretty long. In the end, I decided to give the other Japanese restaurants nearby a try instead.

「チキンカツとじ重セット」 ここのチキンカツがカリカリだし、美味いです。 それで、周りの卵がほくほくだし、全然鹹くないです。 だから、カツ、玉ねぎ、ご飯を一緒に口に入れて、 一瞬でとても幸せになりました。美味すぎです。 美味いチキンカツと比べて、セットの副菜と味噌スープの味は普通です。 （しかし、ここのキチンカツより「とん吉」のカツの 味と質のレベルのほうが高いです。） 'Chicken Katsutoji Jyuu Set' The 'Chicken Katsu' over here are pretty crunchy and delicious. And the fried egg that's covering the 'Katsu' aren't soggy and aren't too salty. Therefore, as and when you took a piece of 'Katsu', a bit of onions and a bit of rice into your mouth, you will experience a sudden sense of happiness. As compared to the 'Katsu', the other dishes that come with the set meal are pretty ordinary. (By the way, in terms of the taste and the texture, I still think that 'Tonkichi' still serve the best 'Tonkatsu' in Singapore.)

「あさりせいろ」 ご飯、野菜、椎茸、浅蜊を一緒に蒸籠に入れて、蒸し料理です。 普通の炒飯よりこの料理の味のほうが豊富だし、ご飯が柔らかいし、 美味いです。(ﾟдﾟ)ｳ-(ﾟДﾟ)ﾏｰ(ﾟAﾟ)ｲ-…ヽ(ﾟ∀ﾟ)ﾉ…ｿﾞｫｫｫｫｫ!!!! です。 その上、そこに、たくさん新鮮な材を利用して、いいですね。(≧∇≦)b ですね。 （しかし、残念だ。その店で牡蠣せいろがありません。牡蠣を食べたいです。。。） 'Asari Seiro' Pretty much the same way how 'Dim Sum' was prepared, the chef had thrown ingredients like 'rice', 'vegetables', 'mushrooms', 'clams' into the 'Dim Sum' basket and steam them together. The final product has a pretty exciting and delicious taste as compared to an ordinary 'fried rice'. Besides for the taste, the rice were pretty soft too and the chef has also added a generous portion of ingredients into this dish. (Too bad they didn't have a similar dish that was made out of 'Oysters'. I seriously would like to give it a try.)

これはその和食レストランの内装です。 皆さん、レストランの名前を知っていますか？ This shows the interior of the Japanese restaurant. I guess that most of you should have a pretty good idea what's the name of this Japanese restaurant already.

そうですね。レストランの名前は「大戸屋」です。 これはシンガポールの「Orchard Central」の8階の「大戸屋」支店です。 That's right. The name of this Japanese restaurant would be 'Ootoya'. This would be one of the Singapore branches that is located on level 8 of 'Orchard Central' shopping mall.

営業時間（「Orchard Central」支店）：

• 12:00～21:30

Operating Hours (Orchard Central):

• 12:00pm - 9:30pm

* こちはシンガポールの「大戸屋」のFacebookページです。（英語のサイト）
^ こちは日本の「大戸屋」の資料です。
~ これは「Orchard Central」の資料です。（英語のサイト）
* Click here to find out more about 'Ootoya' Singapore.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Ootoya' Japan. (Japanese website)
~ Click here to find out more about 'Orchard Central'.

シンガポールで唯一のうどん屋？The only Japanese Udon restaurant in Singapore?

シンガポールでラーメン屋とか、しゃぶしゃぶ店とか、居酒屋とか、様々な和食レストランがあります。しかし、もしうどんを食べたかったら、何処にいきましょうか？
In Singapore, there's a very big variety of 'Japanese restaurants'. For example: 'Ramen restaurants', 'Shabu Shabu restaurants', 'Japanese style drinking places', etc... However if you have the sudden urge of eating 'Japanese Udon', where can you go?

数週間前に、「Liang Court」というデパートの一階で シンガポールで唯一のうどん屋（？）が営業を開始しました。 そのうどん屋の名前は「たも屋」です。 これはシンガポールの支店の外観です。 There's finally a Japanese Udon restaurant in Singapore. The restaurant was opened a few weeks back and it's located on level 1 of 'Liang Court' Shopping Mall. The name of the restaurant would be 'Tamoya' and the photos in the above shows the exterior of the branch in Singapore.

和風カレーうどん 'Japanese Curry Udon' 実はね、そのデパートへ行く時、最初の目的は和風カレーを食べてみたいです。 しかし、そのうどん屋を見て、目的を早速に変えていました。 結局その日の晩御飯は「カレーうどん」です。 実はね、そこのうどん種類が多いし、値段が高くないです。 In fact, going to give the 'Japanese Curry Rice' at 'Liang Court' a try was my main reason for visiting the shopping mall. However, I changed my mind, as soon as I saw the new 'Japanese Udon restaurant'. Hence I ended up eating 'Japanese Curry Udon' for dinner that day. In fact, I had a hard time selecting the type of 'Udon' that I wanted to try, especially when there are more than 10 different types of 'Udon' on the menu and the price are pretty reasonable. さすがに和風カレーです。全然辛くないです。甘いです。 それで、シンガポールで大部分の和食レストランのうどんは致命的な点が あります。それは柔らか過ぎです。しかし、あそこでその問題がありません。 そのうどんが柔らかいし、硬過ぎないし、美味いです。(≧∇≦)b ですね。 This is indeed 'Japanese Curry'. It's pretty sweet rather than been spicy. And on top of that, one particular reason why I don't really like to have 'Japanese Udon' in the local Japanese restaurant was due to the fatal problem of the 'Udon' being too soft. However, I don't experience the issue with the 'Udon' over here. In fact, the 'Udon' over here are pretty chewy, not too hard and delicious. Which ended up to be pretty good dining experience. そのうどん屋はうどん料理以外、天婦羅とか、お握りとか、 色々な料理も販売していました。 Besides for 'Udon', they also prepare and sell Japanese delicacies like Tempura, 'Onigiri'(Japanese Rice balls), etc...

営業時間：

• 11:00～22:00

Operating Hours:

• 11:00am - 10:00pm

* こちはシンガポールの「たも屋」の資料です。（英語のサイト）
^ こちは日本の「たも屋」の資料です。
~ これは「たも屋」のFacebookページです。
# これは「Liang Court」というデパートの資料です。
* Click here to find out more about 'Tamoya' Singapore.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Tamoya' Japan. (Japanese website)
~ Click here for the Facebook page of 'Tamoya' Singapore.
# Click here to find out more about 'Liang Court'.

おせち料理の初体験 / My first encounter with 'Osechi Ryouri'

今年の元旦は日本で過ごしました。そして朝の10時頃起きた後、早速に歯の磨いて、顔を洗って、朝ごはんを準備しました。。。
I have spent my New Year for the year 2013 in Japan. Once I get out of bed that morning, I quickly get myself ready for the luxurious breakfast.

実は2013大晦日はそのイベントを参加していました。 これはJR京都駅の伊勢丹デパートで、 毎年開催されている一日限りの お持ち帰りおせち、朝八時頃長蛇の列があります。 僕もその列に並び、おせち料理を入手しました。(≧∇≦)b During the very last day of 2012, I have participated in this 'event'. This annual event was held by the 'Isetan' departmental store located inside 'JR Kyoto station'. They will be selling the 'Osechi Ryouri', which is also known as traditional Japanese New Year food, over here. In fact, there's already a long queue of people queueing up for it at 8am in the morning. I managed to secured a place in the queue 安ｄget myself a set of 'Osechi Ryouri' too. O.OV

これは僕の戦利品です。 Here's my reward for queueing up for more than an hour+.

これは「泉仙」のおせち料理です。 Here's the 'Osechi Ryouri' by 'Izusen' restaurant.

「泉仙」のおせち料理のメニューです。 メニューによると、ここに様々な海鮮と肉と野菜の料理もありますよ。 超楽しいですね。 And here's the menu. According to the menu, there's a mixture of seafood, meat and vegetables dishes. And I'm looking forward to taste everything.

ほんまに豪華だし、華々しいし、味も多彩です。 それは朝ごはんと言えども、昼ごはんをスキップして、 二時間を利用して、料理を全ての食べ終わりました。 お腹がいっぱいです。大満足です。 （しかし、牛肉が食べられません。 だから、捨てなければなりません。残念ですね。） Not only luxurious, it looks glamorous and there's a great variety of tastes. In fact, though most Japanese will have it for breakfast, but it took me 2 whole hours to finish up all the food. I even have to skip my lunch to finish this. My conclusion for this meal, 'Satisfying'. (My only regret for this meal, would be the beef stuff. Since I couldn't eat them, therefore I have to throw them into the rubbish bin. :( )

* こちは「泉仙」の資料です。
* Click here to find out more about the restaurant 'Izusen'. (Japanese website)

元旦 / New Year

お寺で鐘を打ったあと、2013年を迎えます。深夜の天気がとても寒いのに、八坂神社に参拝に行きます。それは僕の初詣です。初詣は、歳が明けてから初めて寺社に参拝し、一年の無病息災を折ります。
After participating in the event of striking the Night-watch bell for 108 times, it's time to welcome the year 2013. Despite of the crazy cold weather, I still decided to proceed to pay my respect at 'Yasaka Shrine'. In Japan, the first visit to a shrine each and every year is also known as 'Hatsumoode'. The locals will pray for their well-being for the upcoming year on this visit.

その深夜、天気が寒いものの、八坂神社に参拝に行った人が多いですね。 （もしかすると何十万以上の参拝者があるかもしれません。） Despite of the cold weather, the shrine still managed to attract the attention of a lot of visitors. (In fact, on that very night, there might be more than 100,000 visitors paying their respect at the 'Yasaka Shrine'.)

お寺に参拝してから、大部分の人がお守りを買ったり、 おみくじをひいたりしています。（僕もおみくじとひいていました。(≧∇≦)b ） After paying their respect at the shrine, most people will either buy a lucky amulet, known as 'Omamori', or paper fortune lots, known as 'Omikuji'. (I, myself have went ahead with the 'Omikuji'. O.OV)

それで、様々な料理とお菓子を食べてみました。 （お寺の周りにインド人が辛いインド料理を販売して、とてもびっくりしました！！！ でもね、寒い天気で一番幸せな行動は、辛い料理を食べます。 それはほんまに援けました。） After that, I decided to give some of the food stalls located within the shrine compound a try. (What amazed me the most, was the fact that there was this Indian selling spicy Indian food within the shrine compound. And trust me, by eating spicy food during a cold weather can really help you a lot.)

お腹がいっぱいした後、ホテルにさ早速に戻ります。それで、朝四時ごろホテルに戻りました。寝て起きてから、ビッグサプライズがありますよ。。。（つづく）
After filling up my stomach with lots of food, it's time for me to return to my hotel. By the time I reached the hotel, it's like 4am in the morning and there's a big surprise waiting for me when I woke up... to be continued.

* こちは「八坂神社」の資料です。
* Click here to find out more about 'Yasaka Shrine'.

大晦日 / New Year's Eve

ちょっと遅いでけど、しかし皆さん去年の大晦日で何をしていましたか？実はね。。。
Though this is slightly a bit too late, but how did you spend your 2013 New Year's Eve? In fact...

京都で一番大好きな蕎麦屋で蕎麦を食べに行きました。 その蕎麦屋の名前は「本家尾張屋」です。 （実はね、今は蕎麦板を食べています。ほんまに美味いです。） for a start, I went to my favourite Buckwheat Noodles restaurant in Kyoto, Japan on the New Year's Eve of 2013. The name of this restaurant would be 'Honke Owariya'. (In fact, I was eating a rectangular shaped tidbit, also known as 'Soba Ita', which is made from Buckwheat Noodles right now. I was so madly in love with it that I could easily finish a box of it within an hour. By the way, each box contains 50 pieces of 'Soba Ita'.)

「にしんそば」 さすがに蕎麦老舗です。 この店の蕎麦が柔らかいし、全然高くないです。 それで、にしんが新鮮だし、美味いです。 とにかく、この店で蕎麦を食べた後、蕎麦を熱愛になっていました。 'Nishin Soba' This is indeed an infamous Buckwheat Noodles restaurant. The Buckwheat Noodles over here are pretty soft and relatively cheap. And the ingredients are pretty fresh and deliciously good. In fact, after giving this restaurant a try, it have greatly increased my passion for Buckwheat Noodles. 何故日本人は大晦日で蕎麦を食べていましたか？ 本によると、蕎麦が細く長く伸びるため、寿命を延ばすという話があります。 However, why did the Japanese have the custom of eating Buckwheat Noodles on New Year's Eve? There's a Japanese saying that states that by eating the Buckwheat Noodles that are pretty thin and long on New Year's Eve symbolises longevity.

美味い大晦日蕎麦を食べた後、町をブラブラして、その後。。。
After having a delicious meal, I decided to
do a bit of window shopping follow up with...

寒い天気で高大寺で除夜の鐘の列に並んでいます。 the task of queueing up outside 'Kodai-Ji' temple. This queue is actually meant for the first 108 people to get a chance to strike the Night-watch bell of the temple on New Year's Eve.

午後十一時から、一人一人が高大寺の除夜の鐘を打ちます。全ては108回です。 From 11pm onwards, those that were selected one after the other will step forward and strike the Night-watch bell once. 何故108回ですか？ 仏教によると、これは人間の煩悩の数だとされます。 つまり、108回の鐘を打つことは、人間の108の煩悩を払います。 Why did they struck the Night-watch bell 108 times? According to Buddhism, 108 symbolises the number of desires that trouble the body and soul of a person. Therefore by striking the bell 108 times symbolise the process of removing all your desires and cleanse your body and soul.

真面目な僕です？ A serious looking me...?

以上は高大寺で撮った写真です。 Some other photos that were taken in 'Kodai-Ji'.

高大寺へ行った後。。。。つづく
After paying a visit to 'Kodai-ji'...to be continued

* こちは「本家尾張屋」の資料です。
^ こちは「高大寺」の資料です。
* Click here to find out more about the Buckwheat Noodles restaurant 'Honke Owariya'.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Kodai-Ji' temple.