The 22,000km Trip (25) Tokyo: A Yokohama Date

One of the great friendships that I have accumulated over my years living in Japan is.... strangely my facialist!
When I first arrived in Japan, I had all sorts of skin problems and started going to a holistic body care aesthetics place.

Looking back at it is quite embarrassing since I barely spoke good Japanese and had really bad skin care habits that have accumulated during my years in the US. Long story short, Americans and Westerner are NOT doing skin care correctly at all. Look up closely and compare Western celebrities and Asian celebrities and you can see how much of a difference there is in the quality of their skin, even in mid-age. The secret is to use various different products for different parts of your face, HYDRATE, and use lots of sunscreen. They staff had to basically reteach me everything from how to wash my face to stop using moisturizers to how to eat properly and within 2 years my skin was better than when I was a teenager!

 They also taught me a lot of social queues and Japanese etiquette which became very useful in everyday life and am very grateful for. I have gone to the clinic for 6 years, 2-3 times a month so naturally we became very close. We still keep in touch with occasional emails and letters but after not seeing each other for over a year, we finally had the chance to spend time together. What a better place to go on a date than Yokohama?

So here we are, first stop Chinatown. It's funny that I tend to go to Chinatowns in every country I visit. Growing up around Chinese people, I must say that Chinatown is a comforting place no matter where in the world I am.

Might I add this Chinatown is THE cleanest one I've seen in the world

Lunch time at the infamous Man-chin-loh

Yummy Japanese Chinese food.. while I love authentic Chinese food, the variations of Chinese food that exists around the world are also my favorites as well. And yes I love Americanized Chinese food too, bring it on Panda Express!

Hello Kitty souvenir items, Yokohama edition

Grandiose Chinese temple

 

Did a mini tour of the Yokohama Bay... it was actually really great! It doesn't take too long and you get a good view of the whole Yokohama area.

Cheerful and nicely uniformed staff greet you :)

Subway station in Yokohama, really pretty one of my favorite stations

Finished the night off with yakitori, ah what a blissful day

The 22,000km Trip (3) Bangkok: Food, food, food

I have to say that the other best thing about going to Chinatown is the food. First of all, you see stacks of food of all kinds piled up on all kinds of ways. People say that you can never wrong with Chinese food (or maybe that's only me... it's my ultimate comfort food!); you can always count on them, no matter where in the world you are. I also always like to see how Chinese cuisine has assimilated and/or become a hybrid with the local dishes. But the best thing about Asia is the food stalls;something about people cooking in front of you under the sun with the aroma wafting in...just makes you want to buy everything! Unfortunately due to my stomach conditions worsening I was nauseous the whole time so I couldn't eat much = sadness. However in hindsight this may have been a good thing that kept me from binge eating as always!

Is it just me or do Thai people seem to love colorful sweet things? :D

Different kinds of soups, curry, and side dishes yum

Chive dumplings

Tea tea tea!

Radish pickles (I think)

Any they're quite expensive!

Lots of people can't stand durian but I don't mind..in fact I love fried durian chips!

The 22,000km Trip (2) Bangkok: Yaowarat

One place I seem to go regardless where I travel is to the local Chinatown. Part of the reason is that I grew up near one and many of my childhood friends lived in one. So it's comforting and strangely nostalgic. It's also comforting to be able to read the signs and menus in Chinese in a country where I'm illiterate.

But the best part is that I always feel the history, and richness of the community. It's invigorating to see how the Chinese enclave seems to flourish in every society, every country despite its hardships they faced in the past. The Chinese community is very well assimilated here within Thai society but nevertheless it's great to see that it continues to thrive and retain its uniqueness.

I can probably walk around for Chinatown for days and not get bored; there's so much activity (sometimes a little too much!) and a plethora of unexpected little pathways and alleys. The colors are bright and flashy. And the aroma of food, incense, and herbs waft in the air from all directions. 

My stomach was still not in perfect condition so I stopped by for the herbal tea shop

I don't even know the name of this thing but I know it's a concoction of disgusting bitter herbs that helps your digestive system!