Dog -friendly places in Singapore

bus ride

On December 8, 2013

Kyoto Day 3

Took my first bus ride this morning to visit some Zen gardens. The ride turned out more amusing than the gardens. The Japanese does it backwards from the way we do it in singapore. Instead of entering from the front of the bus, everyone goes up from the middle and they pay a flat fee of 220yen* when they are ready to get off from the front. The ride can never be lonely. Not even if there is only one commuter on the bus. The driver provides a constant audio track throughout the ride, letting you know when he is turning right, when he is stopping for the traffic light, when he is starting again. For a job that only requires you to drive from point a to point b, japanese bus drivers sure need more than a driving licence to give you the full service on board the bus!

*For specific route in a specific area of town.

Each zen garden charged an entrance fee and they were so small, one could walk around the garden in 10minutes and exit again. But the point of a zen garden is to keep things simple and perhaps helpful for achieving peace, focus and contemplation? So I determined to just sit around on the patio in front of the garden and absorb the morning chill. It was then I spotted a pair of angry eyes staring pointedly ahead. Now I’ve found something to focus on in the zen garden, and did a sketch of the fat cat. It was rather obstinate, sitting there between two rocks and shivering in the cold, as if it were a rock that was part of the zen garden design.

It was no photos allowed in there but my sketch was bad so I sneaked a photo of the cat, see it on instagram – http://instagram.com/p/hplye3lIGt/

The later part of the day was more interesting as I joined a horde of people invading one of thr top temples in Kyoto as part of a special nightime prayer session event. That is a tale for another day.

I don’t have any updates of Donna today as I have lost my phone somewhere between dinner and getting back to the hotel. I don’t really think I’ll get it back.

kyoto station and eel liver

By weliveinaflat

On December 7, 2013

In Explore

clear soup with eel liver Kyoto station is a gargantuan block of metal and concrete housing the JR, subway, various shopping belts and malls, outdoor performance space, theatre and even a hotel! Eating places are plentiful. Our bento set tonight came with a small bowl of soup with eel liver! More -http://weliveinaflat.com/blog/can-eel-liver/

you can have the eel liver

By weliveinaflat

On December 7, 2013

In Explore

Human in Kyoto Day 2

clear soup with eel liver Kyoto station is a gargantuan block of metal and concrete housing the JR, subway, various shopping belts and malls, outdoor performance space, theatre and even a hotel. Eating places are plentiful. Our bento set tonight came with a small bowl of soup with eel liver.

So perhaps, one can technically live and operate in that building forever, without going anywhere else, except for the small incongruity of its name and planned function as a commuter hub.

For some, the journey into Kyoto starts from Kyoto Station. The bus dropped us off right by it; our hotel is right across the street from it as well. Most importantly, the Tourist Information Centre is housed with it on the 2nd floor. I came without an itinerary so TIC was definitely a good resource.

kyoto towel hotel tourist information centre

Donna’s Vacation

The rascal has been picky today. Took treats only to spit it out again and harrassed a more scared schauzer. I think she was just being playful, but that is not an excuse for harrying another animal.

donna

Morning

By weliveinaflat

On December 6, 2013

In Explore

Human’s Vacation Day 1

warmed canned morning coffee Kansai International Airport (KIX) is peach on the inside and mint and grey on the outside.

To get to the arrival hall from the plane, one needs to get on board a shuttle rail. Not difficult since everyone has to go the same way. Present your papers, get your two index fingers scanned, smile for the camera and your bags checked and you’re ready to go.

The kansai airport bus and ticketing machine is just outside the door. The chill at 6.30 in the morning reminded me of the year end chill in Toronto. I dont have many reference points.

The 7am bus for kyoto station sets off under rose hued skies. The audio track rambled, surprisingly in Chinese, in addition to Japanese. Please fasten your seatbelt. And in English, please refrain from talking on the phone on the bus.

Kyoto sits in a valley, bordered by layers of misty relief in the horizon. The sun has barely peeked from behind, just in time to say, good morning, welcome to Japan.

Donna’s Vacation

Transit and Vacation

By weliveinaflat

On December 5, 2013

In Explore

Human in transit

The constant roar of the engine penetrated the weak barrier of classical music piped through the headphones.

To my left,

a stranger.

Male.

We ignored each other and the intimate proximity we found ourselves in. A manager had once announced to me that if we needed to travel together as part of work, it is common courtesy to keep to ourselves and respect each other’s personal space. That had put me at ease since I was not much of a conversationalist.

Mr P and I were on different flights, bound for the same city. He, for work; me just tagging along for a holiday.

The air stewardess pushed the foodcarts by. I had spent the night packing and have never been happier to get a cup of bad coffee. Scratch that.

I am always happy endless blue ocean.

when there is coffee. over the

Look! It even rhymes. Outside, up from and

voluminous clouds stood, layer upon billowing

Layer. Pristine monoliths

sunset sky view from plane

A different view from the prose above. These two photos are taken one after another during sunset. The difference in colour, strangely, is a result of holding the Samsung Galaxy Note vertically, and then turning it 180degrees for another portrait shot. Totally random discovery.

Donna on vacation

P/s: blogging on the samsung galaxy note is a painstaking exercise! Haha~

“Do you want to play?”, asked the mongrel of the husky

By weliveinaflat

On October 15, 2013

In Behaviour, Explore

The other day my mom wanted to visit me but I was taking Donna out to the dog run.

And what does she do there, my mother wanted to know.

Oh, she runs around with the other dogs… you chase me… I chase you … like children.

There is a rather child-like quality about dogs that gets endearing, isn’t there?

This white husky looks bigger than Donna but she is only 7 mths old to Donna’s 4 years :P

Dog run

By weliveinaflat

On September 21, 2013

In Explore

The dog was perhaps 8 metres away from me. She was stooped facing me, peeing with one leg lifted slightly off the ground. She was staring at me all the while, a glimmer in her eyes, a roguish smile. I looked on. She was done. And then she launched toward me. A hurricane of a dog barreling closer and closer. Closing in. 5 metres. 3 metres. Half metre away from me, she veered off to the right.