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I'm clearing out a lot of my stuff - preowned, displays, 2nd handed, unused, gifts from others etc. to make more space for my room
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Thursday, January 22, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Temple seal book 御朱印帳
Happy New Year! How's everyone doing?
Today I'm typing out this mini post on something that I had done earlier for my Nov trip earlier.
I had bought myself a temple seal book or known as 御朱印帳 (Go Shuin Chou) to collect stamps of the temples that I had visited.
Here my book:-
Here my book:-
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| Temple Seal Book 朱印帳 - Front and pouch |
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| Temple Seal Book 朱印帳 - Back with personal particulars (Name, Address and contact no.) |
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| Temple Seal Book 朱印帳 - Example |
FAQ
Q : What is temple seal book?
A : It is actually an empty book that one can purchase and collect various temple seals from the temple/shrine that one visit. The book records one's temple pilgrimage around Japan.
Q: Are there different types of temple seal books around?
A: Generally there are 2 types of temple seal books. The traditional book that open up fully from 1 end to another and the western style book like our modern day book that is blinded by the side. As for cover designs, there are plenty to choose from depending on one's budget!
Q : What is a temple seal?
A : A temple seal is hand written sutra or amulet by the temple office staff. 1 temple seal usually will include the date that one visited the temple; the sutra/amulet; temple's given name and formal name.
Q : How should one go around collecting seal?
A : Just bring the temple seal book to the temple office or 納所 (Nassho). Sometimes, famous temple might set up a separate seal office or 御朱印所 (Go-ShuinSho) to specially write seal for temple pilgrimage visitors (i.e. 東大寺 or Toudaiji in Nara, Japan).
Holding the book with both hands below the book and ask while smiling. Most of the temple office will take it from there onwards.
Holding the book with both hands below the book and ask while smiling. Most of the temple office will take it from there onwards.
English request : May I have a temple seal please.
Japanese request :「 ご朱印お願いします。」(Go Shuin Onegaishimasu)
In case, one cannot find 納所 or 御朱印所, try looking for the reception counter or administration office with the following kanji : 拝観受付(Haikan Uketsuke) or 寺務所 (Jimusho). Sometimes, one can get their seal over the temple counter where the amulet are on display. Asking is free :)
Q : What's so special with the temple seal book?
A : As every single seal in the book is hand written, each and every one seal is unique from others. It is consider infinity to own the seal from the temple that one visit. Furthermore, one is not restricted to 1 seal per temple as every seal have their own date.
Q : Should I keep a separate book for Buddhism and Shinto?
A : Nope, it doesn't matter. You can keep them together or separate depending on your own preference.
Japanese request :「 ご朱印お願いします。」(Go Shuin Onegaishimasu)
Q : What's so special with the temple seal book?
A : As every single seal in the book is hand written, each and every one seal is unique from others. It is consider infinity to own the seal from the temple that one visit. Furthermore, one is not restricted to 1 seal per temple as every seal have their own date.
Q : Should I keep a separate book for Buddhism and Shinto?
A : Nope, it doesn't matter. You can keep them together or separate depending on your own preference.
Q : What is the cost for owning the book?
A :It will cost around 1,000 yen onward depending on where one buy it. One can even buy it online via Rakuten or Amazon! I got my book at Meiji Jingu for around 1,300 yen including my 1st seal. Each seal will cost around 300 yen but some of the more famous temples might charge slightly more.
Q: What about the seals on coat?
A: They are generally similar in practice but those Japanese folks who request on seal on their coat are usually on temple pilgrimage tours and stamp on their hat/cost which they wear throughout the journey. One of the famous temple routes is in Shikoku 88 temples.
Q: What about the seals on coat?
A: They are generally similar in practice but those Japanese folks who request on seal on their coat are usually on temple pilgrimage tours and stamp on their hat/cost which they wear throughout the journey. One of the famous temple routes is in Shikoku 88 temples.
For more information in Japanese :
Temple Seal Book and its function
Sample of Temple seal book covers from various temples
Rakuten - Temple Seal Book Online Purchase
Amazon Japan - Temple Seal Book Online Purchase
Sample of Temple seal book covers from various temples
Rakuten - Temple Seal Book Online Purchase
Amazon Japan - Temple Seal Book Online Purchase
Just a slight note that instead of the commemorative stamp found in temple office or heritage sites, one should treat the temple seal book and its seals with utmost respect as the temple seals are like Buddhist/God alter ego. One should not randomly place it anywhere. Ideally a quiet place or an alter with rosary or important things would be a good choice.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Xmas Dinner
Had a Xmas dinner with my brother at 2 Braddell Road.
And guess what?
Cheap n Affordable without breaking ur wallet!
Just a side note that this coffeeshop is well known for their frog legs and other seafood but we order the stingray only as we only want our spicy fish :)
Total Cost for 2 : ~SGD25.50 for 1 M size stingray, 1 small veg, 1 small onion egg and 3 rice.
And guess what?
Cheap n Affordable without breaking ur wallet!
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| Small Coffeeshop but with big crowds.... |
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| Dinner for 2 |
Total Cost for 2 : ~SGD25.50 for 1 M size stingray, 1 small veg, 1 small onion egg and 3 rice.
NO GST! NO Service Charge!
Just A Note for Drivers - There is minimum parking slots so one might consider parking slightly further or take public transport instead. It is VERY difficult to park during dinner peak hour.
Buses available :
28 93 153 - Along Braddell Road ( Directly in front of the coffeeshop)
13 100 107 133 135 147 155 853 - Serangoon Road
NAME : Hong Chang Eating House
ADDRESS :2 Braddell Road Singapore 359895
Operating hours : 6pm onwards to late
Usually closed on Monday
Just A Note for Drivers - There is minimum parking slots so one might consider parking slightly further or take public transport instead. It is VERY difficult to park during dinner peak hour.
Buses available :
28 93 153 - Along Braddell Road ( Directly in front of the coffeeshop)
13 100 107 133 135 147 155 853 - Serangoon Road
NAME : Hong Chang Eating House
ADDRESS :2 Braddell Road Singapore 359895
Operating hours : 6pm onwards to late
Usually closed on Monday
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Brunch mini gathering!
Had a brunch with my classmates earlier today near Arab street.
And guess what?
For a small cafe, it was pretty packed on a Sunday late morning!
Food wise, let the photos do the talking instead!
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| Beautiful cutlery display |
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| Hot chocolate with ginger man :) |
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| Tea, anyone? |
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| Truffles egg mushroom :) |
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| Big breakfast! |
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| Symmetry Eggs Benedict :) |
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| Let the oozing egg do the talking.... :P~~~~~~~ |
Cost per pax (for our meals) : ~SGD34 for 1 drink and 1 main course for brunch.
NAME : Symmetry
ADDRESS : 9 Jalan Kubor #01-01 S(199206)
TEL : +65 62919901
FAX : +65 62919902
E-MAIL : info@symmetry.com.sg
Monday, December 8, 2014
Back from Japan!
Hi Folks! I'm Ee Ee which my owner loves to bring me around to travel the world. Well, not really around the world but she is one hell of Japan lover. It's my 4th trip to Japan and this time she even bought me a baby jacket while in Japan when the cold current of Japan makes me freezing cold!
It's so fun covering Japan F&E given that yen is so cheap and the local folks are so friendly! Works wonder especially one can also speak Japanese!
2014 Autumn Japanese trip highlights include:
Arashiyama Monkey Park
Wakayama Kishi station and Idakiso station - Cat station masters (Tama Chan and Nitama Chan)!
Nara Park
Machida Squirrel Garden
Inari Shrine
Eikando Temple
Koyasan (shukubo and main temple visit)
Look forward to my new posts.
PS: Sorry folks, I was busy with my private life that I don't have time for update on my travel blog so I will be more diligent in uploading my Autumn trip and share my information with you guys :)
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Machida Squirrel Garden!
One of the main highlight of my Japan 2014 Autumn Trip.
I had been wanting to visit this garden since I read about squirrel gardens in Japan via a FB link that my friend passed to me earlier this year. Actually it is more like a petting zoo for kids but who really cares about the name as long as it is fun to spend 1/2 day here!.
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| Machida Squirrel Garden Signboard |
The petting zoo doesn't just have squirrels but also....
TONS of guinea pigs on standby alert for food...
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| Bunnies! |
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| Prairie dog that is posing in front of the camera! |
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| Tortoise! |
Interestingly enough - During cold weather, the petting zoo even prepare an indoor shelter for them!
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| Crawling slowly back into their indoor nest.... :P |
Not forgetting the main highlight : -
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| Squirrel!!! |
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| Squirrel eating away~~~~ |
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| Squirrels that roam freely within feeding pen and begging for food~~~ |
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| Squirrel that found walnut |
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| Squirrel that jump onto you and look for food |
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| Close up on the squirrel that jump onto one's leg. |
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| Squirrel that is napping away... |
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| Ignoring the rest of the world... |
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| Totally ignoring.... |
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| While the hungry ones approach humans zesty.... |
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| They climb onto your glove in search for food.... |
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| And they come again! As long as you have food for them :) |
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| Someone pour sunflower buffet for the squirrels and they went mad!!! |
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| Even the toilets looks very cute indeed! |
Some Interesting Details to note
Estimated no. of free roaming squirrels within the feeding pen zone : 200
Type of squirrel roaming within feeding pen zone : Taiwan squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus thaiwanensis - Link in Japanese]
Opening Hours of Machida Squirrel Garden :
Address : 195-0071 東京都町田市金井町733-1
Contact Tel: 042-734-1001
Original website in Japanese :Machida Risuen
Directions: From Tokyo, take a train to Machida Station (町田駅) via Odakyu line (小田急線). Journey from Shinjuku is about 30mins. After reaching Machida station, exit from the north (小田急町田駅北口). Walk straight for 50m until you see a bank (銀行) then turn left.
You will see 1 alighting stops and 2 boarding stops. Look for bus stop no. 21 with bus no. 55 「本町田経由野津田車庫行（55系統）and 53 「鶴川駅行（53系統）」.Take either of the buses and alight at Yakushiike 「薬師池」。Bus journey is about 20mins. Walk straight on your right after alighting and you can see the park on the right side (across the road)。
Opening Hours of Machida Squirrel Garden :
- Oct to Mar - 10am to 4pm
- Apr to Sep (for Weekend and Public Holidays only) - 10 am to 5pm
- Closed on every Tuesday (However if the PH fall on Tuesday, the garden will close on the next day instead)
- Closed on 24/12 for Christmas
- Close from 27/12-2/1 for New Year celebration
- Closed on every 1st Tuesday to Friday (4 days) on June/September/December
Admission :
- Kids (3 years old to 12 years old) - 200 yen
- Adults (above 12 years old) - 400 yen
- Large group (above 20 pax), senior citizens (above 65 years old), handicapped
- Kids (3 years old to 12 years old) - 100 yen
- Adults (above 12 years old) - 300 yen
Address : 195-0071 東京都町田市金井町733-1
Contact Tel: 042-734-1001
Original website in Japanese :Machida Risuen
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| Credits : Google map |
You will see 1 alighting stops and 2 boarding stops. Look for bus stop no. 21 with bus no. 55 「本町田経由野津田車庫行（55系統）and 53 「鶴川駅行（53系統）」.Take either of the buses and alight at Yakushiike 「薬師池」。Bus journey is about 20mins. Walk straight on your right after alighting and you can see the park on the right side (across the road)。
To return to Tokyo, simply exit from the squirrel garden and turn left. The bus stop is just 1 traffic light away. :)
Good to note : Wheelchair accessible and pram friendly
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