Gero the Onsen City - Konnichiwa !!

Hey Guys !!
Seems like a long time since my last post, hope you have been thinking of me ;) Missed this year's Audit Fashion Festival since I was in Japan. No complaints though! For those who attended AFF2014, am sure you enjoyed Prabal Gurung's high fashion layering and legendary designer Oscar De La Renta's fall collection... Just the thought of it, makes me drool.. haha
Oh, am proud of our local designer Ong Shunmugam's beautiful play with fabric !! Would love to own one of your creative pieces... <3

Enough of the fashion talk, back to business :p Scratching my head on how I should blog about my trip, I guess the best way is to split them into different locations ;) Of course including my OOTD in each post. Credits to my photographer cum bf for all your hardwork. Though I raised my voice at times, your patience is very much appreciated.. hehehe

This time our trip consists of Tokyo as well as Gifu Prefecture. A prefecture in the Chubu region of Japan. Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendo. During the Sengoku period, many people refer to Gifu by saying "Control Gifu and you control Japan". Will tell you more along the way !! (Just in case you do not know, am a big fan of history... the world before me always interest me...)

First stop, Gero - city in Gifu Prefecture famous for it's hot springs (onsen). The Hida River runs throughout the city. 4 hours train ride from Tokyo with Mount Fuji in the background.

No filter ok

My very first experience of staying in a Ryokan begins with Yunoshimakan. "To do the same as what I always see in Japan Hour" - Checked !!
Yunoshimakan is a long-standing ryokan in Gero Onsen. Established in 1931 and has had the honor of accommodating the previous Emperor Showa and the current Emperor Akihito. Of course, we are not staying in the same room. The building is designated as a National Tangible Cultural Asset.

Ain't it lovely....

Lobby Entrance

Our private lovely garden

Our little in-room onsen

If you are worried about using shared bathroom staying in Ryokan, choose the Bekkan room type.
Overview: An 8-tatami matted room, a small connected room, a spacious veranda, a natural hot spring bath and a toilet. Dinner served in the room, and breakfast served in the public dining room.

Onsen are what make Gero famous, definitely a place for you to get our of your hectic life and relax. Onsen water is believed to have healing powers derived from its mineral content and renown for beautifying skin. Yes girls, beautifying skin !! Other than what your Ryokan offers, there are 3 public bath houses available in town. There is also a large rotenburo (open-air bath) you can bath in for free however it has no facilities.

Gero is a small city and can be explored by walking. Stop by any open foot bath along the way to sit and relax. Just like them ;)

I love this picture !!

The water is really hot !

Walking around aimlessly in this quiet and soothing city with absolutely no time restriction along with the best weather, I am enjoying this moment of life...

Onsenji Temple worships the Buddha of healing, whose image is credited to restoring the flow of hot spring to the town after it was stopped by a large earthquake

I like even the simplest temple in Japan. The structure, wood material and trees never fail to provide a calming effect... <3

Hat and white top: Topshop, Skirt: Engell, Knitted coat: GG5, Shoes: ASOS (I LOVE THIS SHOT !!)

Food porn time ! Amazing dinner arranged by the Ryokan in our room. First, meet our beautiful and lovely waitress Maki ;) She is only going to be here for 3months before starting her contract with JAL as cabin crew.

To avoid posting 20 pictures for every single dish, here's an overview I did for you guys... Oh, this serving is only for round 1 !!

2nd round served with my weakness... Rice.

Then the dessert..

Lastly, let's do some plum wine tasting..

The thing is that, I finished all of the above mentioned.. Gosh !!! Guilty to the max !!
Instead of skin beautifying, I hope that the onsen water has the effect of burning calories.. Total of 8 onsen available for the guests. There are private ones available for booking too, in case you are not used to being so "open" like me... haha

The indoor one

Love this !!

 Foot bath is available too ;)

I just love the feeling of walking around the Ryokan, exploring this mysterious yet elegant building in my lovely pink Yukata ;)

For the ladies, you get to choose your Yukata ;) What you think of my choice...
Back to the room and found our futon ready !!

For those having back problems, I think this might be the solution.
Then again, waking up to this for breakfast..

1 night in Gero and I felt like I have put on 1kg.. Don't even dare to weigh myself since I am back from Japan. All I know is some of my skirts are feeling real tight.. OMG !!
Next up, Takayama - a city in the mountainous Hida region. Stay tuned guys !! Till then, wishing you a great week ahead <3

Namaste in India

Finally !! Am going to write about my traveling experience ;) I chose India to start as this is one of my most enriching moments. Have always wanted to visit one of the 7 wonders of the world, Taj Mahal - Temple of Love. How sweet is that name <3

For those who would like to visit India one day, I highly recommend you to hire a driver to bring you around. Trust me, this is so much easier and much safer. We paid EUR210 for a driver to take us around the entire 6days in a Tata Indigo (medium range car). That's really a good price, the driver is with us from the start of the day till we retire back to our room.

First stop after 3.5hrs drive straight from Delhi airport to Agra.

Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah - Yamuna River, Agra,

Itmad-ud-Daula's Tomb is a Mughal mausoleum in the city of Agra in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Often described as 'jewel box'. The tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah is often regarded as a draft of the Tāj Mahal, sometimes people call it the "Baby Taj"! I'll let you judge if it resembles the Taj Mahal ;)

That's how it looks inside

That's one lovely piece of work !!

Next up on my planning, highlight of this trip - the masterpiece !

No jokes guys, I literally held my breath standing in front of this beauty!! Am not sure I did justice by putting this picture but it is just magnificent! Being here, how could we not talk about the touching love story behind one of the best UNESCO world heritage site.

Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Shah Jahan, emperor during the period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess, died during the birth of their 14th child. Yes Right, 14th ;p

The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab, and gateway. It was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials. A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across northern India. The guide told us that in order to prevent replication, an order was given to chop off the hands of 20,000 workers. OMG !!

The gate to enter Taj Mahal

Emperor Shah described the Taj in these words....
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.

Best way to end a day filled with love is to have dinner in the most romantic and luxury hotel in Agra, Oberoi Amarvilas - Esphehan.

This is indeed an amazing hotel...

Never judge a dish by its looks, this is amazingly delicious!! Greenish paste came from asparagus and broccoli

Before going to India, I never liked Indian food. After this first night, I never looked back. Haha !!

I want you to draw me like one of your french girls, wearing this, wearing only this.... :p

On the road again, making our way to Jaipur.

On the way to Jaipur, we made a stop at Fatehpur Sikri

My shoes are super comfy... 13pound from ASOS and it's made in Italy.. !!

Welcome to India !!

Last stop before arriving in Jaipur is to visit the Abhaneri Stepwell. Stepwells are wells or ponds in which the water may be reached by descending a set of steps. They may be covered and protected and are often of architectural significance. They also may be multi-storied having a bullock which turns the water wheel to raise the water in the well to the first or second floor. They are most common in western India. This is really interesting for me ;)

L

It was a long and tiring day, we totally deserve another amazing dinner at Rambagh Palace, Suvarna Mahal.

The cute waiter

That's how it looks in the restaurant, super posh !!

Printed jeans from ASOS

The water palace

Amber Fort and Palace

Next up is one of my favorite part, getting up close and personal with the gentle giants ;)

Gonna look pretty before riding on them ;)

So... How do I look ?? ;)

Now its time to show my talent.. haha.. Ingredients used are all made from plants, no harm to my friends ;)

Tada !!!

Time to say bye to my lovely friends!!

How is my OOTD ;) Top - from India market

Galta Gorge - Sun Temple

Ended our trip with a great dinner at the Bukhara restaurant (rated one of the restaurant to dine in before you die), even Bill Clinton has been there before!! Try it when you are in Delhi next time !

Little surprise from him.. So sweet !!

My trip to India was back in 2012, last night in Delhi was also when the tragic gang rape happened. It kind of scares me when I think about it, especially with all other incidents which followed after. Having said that, people I met throughout the trip are all nice and friendly. Working hard each day trying to make ends meet, trying to survive and trying to maintain their families. It was truly an experience visiting India, to see the extreme ends of rich versus the poor living in 1 country.
The only regret I have is that we didn't managed to visit Gandhi Smriti, the great teacher of all time.

The world would be a better place if we have more people like him. As he says:

“There are Seven Deadly Social Sins:
Politics without principle.
Wealth without work.
Commerce without morality.
Pleasure without conscience.
Education without character.
Science without humility.
Worship without sacrifice.”

Hope you like my travel post ;) If you are traveling to India and would like some tips, feel free to drop me a message !! Till the next one, wishing you guys an early HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR ! GONG XI FA CAI !  Xoxo