LUXOMME

Thankfully his English is much much better than our non-existant Japanese, and after some pointing and google searching, there was an eureka moment when finally reached an understanding.

'Oh! Sensō-ji temple!' we exclaimed.

So off we went.

Sensō-ji temple also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple is much much older than me. 

According to Google, it was built in 645, and is dedicated to Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy.

From the subway station, we walked about 3 minutes through a tunnel filled with shops, and found ourselves surrounded by even more shops! Everything from souvenirs, to novelties, food and then some more. 

Making our way through the crowd is exhausting, but eventually we made it all the way to the entrance where there were even MORE people. Kimono sightings distracted us from the crowds though.

Joining the masses, we toured around the area.

Observing people as they participated in their rituals. 

While everyone clamored for a view of the ceremony happening inside.

I even took a picture (although I realized later I may not have been allowed to).

It was a scorching hot day, so some people decided to cool off at the water fountain, with a quick drink and a dip in the cold water.

Sightseeing is hard work! So once we finished our little discovery session, we stopped by the first food store outside the entrance, selling pillows of deep fried egg whites filled with the most decadent of fillings.

Trusting our host was probably one of the best decisions we made. Although a little touristy, Sensō-ji is not only gorgeous but also a very interesting experience, from a historical and cultural point of view. Places like these are always so mind-boggling to me. I can't imagine how buildings are built today - even with all the technology, so building this with no modern gadgets?! Mindblown. It's all so perfectly put together!

Definitely very photo-worthy.

If you decide to stop by, don't forget to pick up a pillow of fluff from this store here!

naomi.

Since I just talked about how fantastic Tokyo was at night, it's only fitting that I follow up with a post about the equally as amazing, but contrastingly different skyline of Hong Kong.

 Hong Kong holds a weird place in my heart. It feels so familiar, yet it's just about as strange to me as any other place in the world. It's not quite my home, but also more relatable than any other place I've ever been.

Growing up as a cross culture kid was never an issue for me, but the older I become, the more the differences are highlighted. I have learned to appreciate the unique privilege I have been given, having an opportunity to taste not just one, but two contrasting cultures. This sort of insight is something that has proven to be beneficial in many cases time and time again.

At the end of the day though, there's only a handful of people that genuinely understand my background, especially in Hong Kong - where I'm not a foreigner, but not quite a local either.

Therefore, spending time in places where expats frequent has become my comfort zone. 

For those of you who aren't familiar with Ozone, it's currently the highest bar in the world, situated on the 118th floor of the Ritz Carlton hotel. It's a glitzy sort of situation with ultra modern decor and the comfiest of couches to lounge on. 

For people who want a more 4D feel of the city this high, there's an open air section where customers can relax and admire the view from dizzying heights. 

Just be careful not to look down!

The view of the harbour is just as brilliant as it it on ground level as it is up high, so after watching the sun set from above, we decided to enjoy the night view from below.

Most tourist guides will tell you that the best place to view the skyline is from the Avenue of Stars. That's misinformed. Avoid the crowds and head to the Marco Polo hotel parking lot right beside Ocean Terminal. 

It's perched above the ground with less crowds and offers a better view of the city without having to glare at the person who just slammed into you with a selfie stick and then scurried away without apologizing.

The skyline is gorgeous, but other than just existing to look pretty, it tells you more about Hong Kong than one may think. 

One fascinating thing about the skyline is how much change it has undergone in the last 50 years. Hong Kong is one of those unique cities which has benefitted from immense growth, and like a cross generation child, has grown up under the influence of two great nations - reflected in the landscape and the architecture.

For instance, we see a Star Ferry crossing the harbour with skyscrapers adoring the background.  The Star Ferry used to be the only way harbor crossers were able to cross over from Kowloon to Hong Kong island. Serving the city since 1888, it's a symbol of the traditional Hong Kong that still harmoniously exists with the modern buildings and the ultra fast MTR system.

Another contrast is the Peak and the lower levels. When the British occupied Hong Kong, they developed and resided on the higher levels and barred locals from entering, subjecting them to restricted life on the ground. Because of that, the residences on the Peak remain one of the most valuable properties in Hong Kong, and the lower levels have become the epicenter of trade and business.

Fascinating how there's a reason for how everything comes to be, isn't it?

Seeing the old and the new mixed together, along with the Eastern and Western influence, Hong Kong speaks to me in more ways than one. Even though I don't necessarily fit in like a local here, Hong Kong is one of those few places that truly reflect the dynamic of taking the best of two worlds and making them into one.

naomi

On the plane ride over, Tiffany and I were in a discussion of whether Hong Kong or Tokyo has more skyscrapers. I adamantly insisted it was Hong Kong, while Tiffany argued for Tokyo. Picking the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, we quickly sped our way right to the top in a brilliantly fast elevator, and were greeted by this view. 

While there, we googled the stats, and as it turns out, Hong Kong has more skyscrapers in physical form, but Tokyo looks like it has more because everywhere you look, the city is flooded with lights, and I've honestly never seen a city so consistently lit up, not even Hong Kong.

For those of you thinking of traveling to Tokyo, a popular place to view the city is from the Skytree. We elected not to visit it because the Tokyo Metropolitan Building is free. FREE. And apparently the view is equally amazing. My motto in life is 'why pay more when you can pay less!.. or not pay at all'

According to my sources (aka travel blogs), the view from the Mori Museum is also quite breathtaking, but will cost you around $20 canadian to get in. Worth a trip if you are planning on visiting the museum anyways.

naomi