Sights in Tokyo

Sightseeing in Tokyo, Japan

6 May 2015 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM HK

It's difficult to grasp how big the city of Tokyo really is. While Tokyo proper itself has over 13 million people, the metropolitan urban area is much bigger. Tokyo is one of the most powerful cities in the world in terms of economy and global influence, and it also maintains an incredible tourist atmosphere.

Tokyo is bustling with an eclectic mix of stunning, all-encompassing modernity and a fascinating tinge of the traditional. From mid-hike beer gardens to an amazing gourmet cuisine living off some of the best fresh markets in the world, Tokyo is an excellent city to pay a visit. Grab yourself a Harajuku fashionista and spend a romantic late evening watching the Tokyo Tower lights turn off. Hop on a train line and head down to the Golden Gai district for a drink at a 2,000 square meter den.

Source: Visit Tokyo

A figurative painter India 'Kalpana'

Crucifixion, Jamini Roy

21 Apr 2015 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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The exhibition named 'Kalpana - Masterpieces of Indian Figurative Paintings' showcases the 29 works by 14 India's top painters from the last century to celebrate human forms that we see in sculptures, temple walls or paintings. All the works are reprints of original canvases, each of which has been approved by the artists. The paintings, ranging from Jamini Roy (born 1887) to Arpana Caur (born 1954) depict the emergence of Indian art from a colonial hegemony into a new era of artistic freedom.

Perhaps the most striking works in the exhibition are drawn from the life of Christ like 'Crucifixion' and 'Christ with Cross'. In these paintings, the rigid figures, painted in the folk style, have protruding, elliptical eyes that are characteristic of Roy's work.  Crucifixion is painted with similar stoic features with a neat harmony running through. Shri Jamini Roy (April 1887 ~ 24 April 1972) was a indian modern artist from west bengal India. He was honoured with the State award of Padma Bhushan in 1955. He was one of the most famous pupils of Abanindranath Tagore, whose artistic originality and contribution to the emergence of modern art in India remains unquestionable.

The Indian tradition of painting and murals goes back over two thousands years. India also has a vibrant contemporary art movement, which has impacted not only the local art scene but also the global art market.

The stamp show one of the HK streetfoods that I got really fond of when I was in Hong Kong for a vacation - the egg waffle.  

Nami Island, Korea

Forest of Crimson Foliage

21 Apr 2015 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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Nami Island is a place that should never ever be left out in your itinerary especially during autumn. Namisum, or Namiseom, is a tiny half-moon shaped island located in Chuncheon, South Korea, formed as it was inundated by the rising water of the North Han River as the result of the construction of Cheongpyeong Dam in 1944. Its name originated from General Nami, who died at the age of 28 after being falsely accused of treason during the reign of King Sejo, the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. 

Namisum is located 3.8 km from Gapyeong County, but belongs to Chuncheon in Gangwon-do. It is 430,000 square meters in area and approximately 4 km in diameter. Nami Island Tree Planting Day was organized so that South East Asian tourists can enjoy the crimson foliage that they cannot see in their own countries. The life energy of spring, the tree shade of summer, the crimson foliage of autumn, bonfires and icicles in the winter - they represent Nami Island's seasonal must-see elements.

A bithday box from HK

Birthday surprises from HK

21 Apr 2015 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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A boxful of goodies from a dear friend in Hong Kong - some snacks and biscuits, postcards, birthday cards, a letter, souvenirs, a Minion USB, and a Sagrada Familia paper model. The postcards are from South Korea, and the Sagrada Familia paper model is probably from his trip to Spain last year - I haven't built up the model up to now. And he even gave me the tools to help me build it. One of these days... definitely. And the USB is still in the box. I think I'll just keep it there for now.

I enjoyed the snacks! I might have eaten them in one sitting. I wonder if they sell such in the Philippines. The birthday greeting card is the one that plays music when you flip it open. It reminded me when I was young and was deeply fascinated by those music-playing cards. I don't see them being sold here that often now. Oh, and the cards plays 'Happy Birthday' in Japanese. お誕生日おめでとうございます! (O-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu!)

Scenery of Old Hong Kong by Kong Kai-Ming

Fisherman's Shed, Tai O

10 Apr 2015 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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For decades, Kong Kai-Ming traveled around Hong Kong with a pencil and made numerous valuable sketches to record the changes of the city. Along with his own narration, the old buildings and everyday life of the common people come vividly to life through the home-grown artist's pencil sketches. His collection displays over 80 pieces of Mr. Kong’s sketches in the 1950-1990s, presenting unnoticed street corners in elegant style and unique angle that brim with historical interest. Kong Kai-ming’s strokes are a lively record of life and scenery of Hong Kong, which bring us back to the good old days. 

I've been in the place featured in the postcard. Akubi accompnied me there when I was in Hong Kong. The Tai O Fishing Village in the Western coast of Lantau Island is a quaint and picturesque village, with the traditional stilt houses predominant of the old Southern Chinese fishing villages, one of the few remaining places where you can still see them in Hong Kong. With its pretty setting on the coast framed by the mountains, and all the activity surrounding the harbour, the traditional seafood market, and the daily life in the stilt houses, it is a photographers dream and definitely worth the trip from Hong Kong.

2015 Chinese New Year Greetings

Hong Kong Chinese New Year Celebration  

3 Feb 2015 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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Akubi sent me this card for the Chinese New Year. I just love the little fish attached to the greeting card. It pops up and transforms into a cute round fish! Since he couldn't send me a real live goldfish, he thought of sending this instead. He added that I seemed very much drawn into the big fat goldfishes when we were in Oceanpark HK and I kept staring at their cuteness. Hence the card. Haha, clever! 

The Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals for the Chinese. Hong Kong Chinese New Year Celebrations are some of the city's landmark events, including the Parade, the Lion and Dragon Dances, and stunning fireworks. The annual Hong Kong Chinese New Year Fireworks extravaganza is an essential part of the celebrations.

The Spring Festival is the biggest holiday in China. Hong Kong people celebrate differently than in the Mainland. They mark the occasion with a unique fusion of modern fun and ancient customs. The three days of night parade, giant fireworks, and horse racing often make it to the top of the lists of world festival events. 2015 is the Year of the Goat, or also known as the Year of the Sheep, Chinese New Year was held on February 19, 2015. Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first moon of the Lunar Calendar, which normally falls in January or February, and is also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. The festivities continue for the next fifteen days culminating in the Lantern Festival with the first full moon of the year.

Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebration was recently listed by Forbes as one of the world's 10 best festival extravaganzas, along with Germany's Oktoberfest and Brazil's Carnival. Lonely Planet also lists the Hong Kong Chinese New Year as one of the world's top events.

Vintage Dining in HK

The Ice Room

3 Feb 2015 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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Tasting authentic snacks in bing sutt and infusing the vinatge atmosphere feels just as if going back to the fascinating 1980s.

Bing Sutt (Chinese: 冰室; pinyin: Bīng Shì; literally: "Ice Room") is a type of traditional coffee house in Hong Kong. Commonly found in 1950s and 1960s-era, it is characterized by old furniture and settings such as the small tiled floors, hanging fans, folding chairs and so on. Bing Sutt provides light meals and drinks and is neighbourhood-oriented. It is believed to be the predecessor of Cha Chaan Teng (tea restaurant).

Only a few dozen traditional Bing Sutts are still operating now, with some others opened by the younger generation fascinated by the nostalgic atmosphere of the Hong Kong style restaurant. Realizing consumers’ desire to take a glimpse of past memories, quite a number of fast food chains set up and adorn their unique experimental concept stores like Bing Sutts to attract customers.

A rabbit hunt

A different sight of Hong Kong

7 Nov 2014 | From Gladys of Hong Kong

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

The postcard shows children helping catch rabbits in the Earthen Building. It also shows a rare insight of Hong Kong as we used to seeing Hong Kong as a concrete urban jungle with tall buildings and skyscrapers, modern architectures, neon lights, city noises, busy establishments, and crowded streets.

I've also experienced a much calmer and quiet Hong Hong during a day trip at Tai O Village. I spent a week in HK last June 2014, and I found myself spending one of those days exploring the streets of Tai O after I met the Big Buddha at Lantau Island. Tai O is a fishing town, partly located on an island of the same name, on the western side of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Life is indeed simpler there, but it is quickly becoming a hot tourist spot for both foreigners and residents of other parts of Hong Kong.

Looking back at the postcard, I can't help but wonder what are they doing with the rabbits. There are some hopping around; there's even one inside a basket. I wonder if they are kept are pets, or to be sold, or heaven forbid, to be cooked and eaten :| Rabbits are eaten in some cultures - despite them being so cute and fluffy :p

A hotel postcard

W Hotels & Resorts

22 Oct 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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The postcard appears to be a collage of many a random things in a background of a splash of colours in some pattern and what appears to be a wood. A bird, a frog, disinfectant spray, scissors, crochets, table mats, etc can be seen. This postcard may be a souvenir item from W Hotels & Resorts. I don't know if there is one in Hong Kong or if Akubi got this from one of his travels overseas.

W Hotels & Resorts are a luxury hotel chain owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide that is generally marketed toward a younger crowd than their other upscale properties. It was launched in 1998 with the W New York, a conversion of the old Doral Inn hotel at 541 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. Now, it operates over 50 hotels in 24 countries and is continuing to expand both domestically and internationally.

Mid-autumn Festival souvenirs

Chopsticks, lanterns, postcards, and more

8 Oct 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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Held on the 15th day of the 8th month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, Hong Kong’s Mid-Autumn Festival is a classic Chinese festival and one of the city’s biggest celebrations. It is a modern celebration of a centuries-old harvest ritual, now associated with moon cakes, shining lanterns, and fiery dragons.

Besides showcasing an incredible variety of colorful, bright shiny lanterns, the festival also features many cultural events and performances including song and dances, kung fu, acrobatics, craft demonstrations and the like.

Akubi sent me some souvenirs he bought during the Mid-Autumn Festival - two pairs of chopsticks, a lantern, a paper ferris wheel, and postcards and letters. He shared that although it is the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong, it is still hot and occasionally rains. He also recounted some vivid childhood memories he has of the festival. He would eat mooncakes and play with lanterns and candles. He used to play with candles by letting them boil and melt in a large container and then pouring in some water which would result to explosions. I remember also doing that with my siblings but with used crayons :)

My third Jetoy postcard

White cat with heterochromatic eyes

26 Sept 2014 | From Wei-yi of Malaysia

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This is my third Jetoy postcard: first is a black cat with white patches, then a black cat (also from Wei-yi), and then this one. Incidentally, one of the first postcards (probably third or fourth) I have received since joining Postcrossing is my first Jetoy postcard. It was sent from Hong Kong. I love cats but I've never thought of collecting cat-themed postcards. In time though I think I have unexpectedly collected a humble amount of cat postcards.

Just like this cat, it was a dream (or fantasy) of mine to have heterochromatic eyes. Heterochromia of the eye, or heterochromia iridis, is a fancy word for different-colored eyes. I want a grey one and a green one. I think it's so cool! It is such a beautiful and interesting physical mutation.

Stamp-shaped postcard

The Bank of China Tower

26 Sept 2014 | From Wei-yi of Malaysia

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM MALAYSIA

I suppose this postcard takes the shape of a stamp :p Wei-yi really wanted to send me a shaped-postcard, and was happy to have found this one through her friend.

The Bank of China Tower, or BOC Tower, is one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in Admiralty, Hong Kong. It houses the headquarters for the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. The building is located at 1 Garden Road, in Central and Western District on Hong Kong Island. I've already seen this building when I was in HK. But I realized I never took any picture of it because I was too busy enjoying the walks and the urban views.

Designed by I. M. Pei and L.C Pei of I.M Pei and Partners, at 315.0 m (1,033.5 ft) high it was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia from 1989 to 1992, and it was the first building outside North America to break the 305 m (1,000 ft) mark.  It is now the fourth tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, after International Commerce Centre, Two International Finance Centre and Central Plaza.

The Cleverly Street by Leung Yun Charm

My Favourite Lantern

6 Aug 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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The lanterns shown in the postcard are usually used during the mid-autumn festival. They come in different shapes, colors, and designs. The Mid-Autumn Festival turns Hong Kong into an enchanting world of fiery dragons, ancient lanterns and modern light shows. During this ancient Chinese festival, Asia’s world city pays homage to its roots, a bygone era when farmers thanked the moon god for bountiful harvests. In true Hong Kong spirit, age-old tradition and innovation rub shoulders for a fun family week.

Source: Discover Hong Kong

Cat Nostalgia

The cat by the window

6 Aug 2014 | From Jasmine of Hong Kong

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

The postcard design was by Nostalgist from facebook/postcollection.hk. The cat seems to be longing for something. It appears to be either waiting for its master or it would want to go outside and play. It reminds me of my cat. She would from time to time stay by the window and just stare outside until she would end up sleeping.

Memories of our 2014 HK-MO tour

 

2014 HK-MO tour photographs

28 Jul 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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The parcel contains a postcard, some stickers to decorate our pictures, a scarf, and printed and softcopy photographs of our HK-MO tour last June 2014. My friends and I spent almost our entire tour with Akubi - visiting various places, exploring the city and the country-side villages, shopping, eating only authentic Chinese food, and having lots of fun. Akubi took a lot of pictures of us during the entire trip. He wrote that it was his mission of some sort :)

We've been to Tsim Sha Tsui, bought souvenirs at Temple Street and Lady Street. We've walked the streets of Kowloon and Admiratty. We had fun at Ocean Park meeting pandas, fishes, alligators, walruses, seals, etc. We've been to the Marine World, Thrill Mountain, Adventure Land - of course we did not miss any rides :) 

We checked out the Stanley Market. We've even walked the sandy shores of Stanley Beach. We've explored Central and Yum Cha. We've visited temples, met a lot of celebrities and famous personalities at Madame Tussauds, and viewed the HK skyline from The Victoria Peak.

We've seen a lot pf Hong Kong parks as we go strolling - a lot of walking! We've been to the Cultural Centre, watched a documentary movie at the Space Museum, and walked with the stars at the Star Avenue.

We've met the Big Buddha after climbing 268 steps. We explored the old and simple village of Tai O. We walked almost the entire island without realizing it. We've been to Tung Chung and bought some electronics at Sham Shui Po.

We conquered Macao in a day, got separated, got lost, and we just kept walking and walking while taking a lot of pictures. We were like in the Amazing Race as we need to catch our ferry before 8 in the evening. Luckily we did with a few minutes to spare.

We've only eaten Chinese food and no fastfood. And we've been all over HK and MO riding buses, trams, ferries, ships, train, and walking, walking, walking. It was tiring but it was fun.

We've seen a lot, experienced a lot, and learned a lot. It was a wonderful experience and I've made such fond memories. It is something I will definitely never forget :)

A postcard for me from me :p

Free The Children campaign

4 Jul 2014 | From Me during my HK-MO trip

SOUVENIR POSTCARD FROM HONG KONG

I was in Hong Kong and Macau for almost a week, and this is the only postcard I was able to send myself :p And the postcard is just something I picked up from an art exhibit which we randomly attended. I was with my two Filipino friends and my pen-friend in Hong Kong during my the trip :)

About the postcard, Me to We is an innovative social enterprise that provides people with better choices for a better world. It  is part of a family of organizations, including Free The Children and We Day, that has a shared goal: to empower a generation to shift the world from ‘me’ to ‘we’—through how we act, how we give, the choices we make on what to buy and what to wear, the media we consume and the experiences with which we choose to engage.

Source: Me to We

Old Victoria Harbour

Busy Victoria Harbour in the 1920s

2 Jun 2014 | From Dennis of the Philippines 

Dennis is my sister's boss in the company she's working with. He enjoys traveling and I have received a lot of postcards from him - mostly unwritten ones.

Victoria Harbor is a Hong Kong Top Attraction from where you can enjoy views of harbour, parade of vessels, skyscrapers and the surrounding sceneries. A harbour cruise is a must-do activity in Hong Kong. This photo of the harbour is a re-print from the 1920s. Victoria Harbour celebrated the centennial of its incorporation in 1911.

Birthday greetings from Akubi :)

Persimmons

15 Apr 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

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Akubi extended his birthday greetings for me through this card. The card shows some persimmon fruits as its design. The persimmon is a fruit of Chinese origin. They are originally cultivated in both Japan and China for centuries.

Akubi shared that 柿 (I don't know if my Chinese is correct) is a fruit called persimmon, and is pronounced as 事 (things) in Chinese which is somehow related to how they write or pronounce "All the best". Akubi wrote the words, but I'm really bad with Chinese characters :p

The stamp is a Taurus - my astrological sign :)

Birthday surprises from a dear friend :)

 

A pleasant birthday surprise

15 Apr 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Akubi sent me this package for my birthday - a box wrapped in my favourite color and filled with wonderful surprises.

Inside the box are some Hong Kong and Macau maps. I'll be visiting him this June 2014 - and it is also helpful that he filled the maps with little notes of places to see and things to try in Hong Kong. There were also a notebook, a violin bookmark and a violin nanoblocks (he plays violin), a paper cut-out ferris wheels, a baggage tag, a postcard, a letter, and a birthday card.

Definitely one of the best birthday surprise gifts I have received! :)

Souvenirs from Spain and France

From Spain and France to HK then PH

27 Feb 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM HK

Akubi sent me a parcel with some pleasant surprises inside: a huge Paris, France postcard, a classical music compilation CD from Spain, an HK banknote, and some photographs from his Spain-France trip :)

Akubi shared that it is customary in HK to give monetary presents to newly-weds. He attended a friend's wedding in France so he shared that info :p